As Indonesia plans to relocate its capital, many government buildings in Jakarta, including the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) complex, are set to face underutilization or vacant. The KLHK complex, designed initially with low-carbon principles, is dominated by large, rigid structures and hard surfaces that limit its environmental potential. The research explores how architectural strategies can utilize threshold spaces to connect inside and outside areas, transforming the KLHK site into a revitalized urban forest. A design that combines the elements inside and outside can enhance the relationship between a structure and its surroundings; it also strengthens the role of KLHK as the heart of the city's natural heritage. This study explores the role of threshold in architectural design and analyzes how to connect a structure and its natural surroundings. A few proposed examples were redefining a structure's room limit and combining the natural elements with the structure of the building to encourage more people to get involved with their surroundings. Thresholds can create harmony between buildings and their natural surroundings, improving the environment's ecological and social standards.

Jakarta faces significant urban challenges related to water management and environmental sustainability, necessitating alternative sources of water to address its ongoing crisis. With over half of Jakarta's population relying on groundwater, addressing these issues is critical. This research aims to explore design strategies for integrating rainwater harvesting systems within a multifunctional public-parking facility, forming a cohesive urban design to alleviate water crisis issues while offering an alternative water source for the city. Effective implementation of rainwater harvesting requires designs tailored to Jakarta's specific environmental conditions and urban landscape. Through several methodologies including literature reviews, precedent studies, and design explorations, various design strategies were identified, such as incorporating engaging water features into public spaces with multiple affordances and creating visual connections with the Gelora Bung Karno main stadium as the central landmark of the area. These findings demonstrate the potential of transforming underutilized but wide spaces like parking areas into regenerative urban nodes which support community engagement. By incorporating rainwater harvesting systems into these spaces, urban areas become more dynamic and responsive to both environmental and societal needs. This approach not only addresses Jakarta’s water crisis but also enhances public awareness of sustainable practices, promoting a more resilient and interconnected urban ecosystem. The integration of functional and community-centered solutions highlights the potential for sustainable transformation across the city’s urban fabric.

There are significant differences in sleep health across populations worldwide, the remarkable increases in life expectancy take place in most countries in the world and will even accelerate in the upcoming years. To accomplish daily life activities, sleep is essential for the health of elderly people, however few studies have made connection between their sleep quality and their bedroom environment. Furthermore, as global warming worsens, so will our ability to get a good night’s sleep, ambient temperatures are rising worldwide and amplify the risk of insufficient sleep. This paper is a part of doctoral research on using The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to analyse the correlation between the sleep physiology and sleep environment of elderly facilities in tropical areas. This study performed field measurements in Iquitos, Peru, to identify the environmental factors (triggers) and their associations with the sleep quality of elderly subjects during summer season. The survey was performed using questionnaires (self-report) and physical measurements to investigate the sleep environment characteristics of typical room spaces in care facilities for the elderly and their impacts on the elderly’s sleep quality.

Flooding is a long-standing issue in Jakarta that is caused by insufficient urban green spaces and its ineffectiveness of managing rainwater. Green spaces currently make up just 9,98% of Jakarta’s total area, significantly less than the optimal goal of 30%. This shortage deepens the impacts of flooding, causing infrastructure damage, disruptions to daily life, increased health risks, and decreases the overall wellbeing of communities. While previous research has primarily focused on flood mitigation interventions along Jakarta's rivers, these efforts often overlook the significant role of Jakarta's urban landscapes in reducing floods. To address this challenge, this study will focus on the DPR/MPR area of Jakarta, which has extensive idle green spaces that remain underutilized. By exploring the potential of these spaces, the research aims to leverage green spaces within a dense urban area as natural infrastructure to reduce flood risks and enhance community wellbeing. This research investigates the potential of techno-ecotourism as a transformative solution for rainwater management while simultaneously societal well-being. It examines key parameters of wellbeing, Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD), and the programs and spaces within techno-ecotourism. Using a methodology that combines literature reviews and precedent studies, this research demonstrates that techno-ecotourism is an effective strategy for integrating rainwater management with tourism practices. Additionally, the findings show that by creating recreational and educational spaces through the integration of technology and ecology in tourism, it increases community awareness about flood mitigation while actively engages Jakarta's residents in contributing to sustainable solutions. This research underscores the critical role of the techno-ecotourism strategy in significantly enhancing both Jakarta's rainwater management capabilities and community wellbeing in facing floods which offers long-term benefits for Jakarta’s urban resilience.

This thesis explores the potential of urban farming as multifunctional public spaces and vibrant community hubs in Jakarta, addressing the city’s pressing urban challenges while enhancing the well-being of its citizens. As one of the most densely populated cities in the world, Jakarta faces critical issues such as food insecurity, limited green spaces, air pollution, and the urban heat island effect. This study seeks to develop architectural design strategies that integrate urban farming into the urban fabric, transforming it into a dual-purpose solution: a public space and community hub. It employs a comprehensive methodology, including literature reviews to analyze key concepts and theoretical frameworks, precedent studies to examine successful examples of urban farming and community spaces, and an explorative design process to develop innovative solutions tailored to Jakarta’s context. The study’s key findings suggest that successful integration of urban farming requires a multi-faceted approach that prioritizes accessibility, adaptability to local conditions, and the inclusion of social, educational, and wellness-oriented programs. The design should be comprised of a variety of spaces and programs, including agricultural areas, educational and interactive spaces, social and recreational areas, as well as health and wellness facilities. The proposed design framework underscores environmental sustainability, resilience, and community engagement, thereby offering a transformative approach to urban farming that addresses Jakarta's pressing urban issues of Jakarta and elevates the quality of life of its citizens. Additionally, the insights derived from this study can serve as a model for adapting urban farming practices in other urban contexts worldwide.

This study focuses on the existing wooden churches and exposed-frame wooden houses designed by the architect Antonin Raymond, and aims to clarify Raymond's scissor truss architectural ideas. The scissor truss seen in wooden churches has changed little by little over the years, and aims to understand the complexity of the framework of the Shibata Catholic Church by analyzing the relationship between the scissor truss seen in wooden churches and scissor truss wooden houses. Raymond had consistent ideas about naturalness, sincerity, directness, and economy, but he went through four different design styles throughout his life. The Shibata Catholic Church is the last style, and it stands out from other wooden churches not only in the shape of the scissor truss, but also in the floor plan.Most previous studies on Raymond have been analyses of Raymond's architectural ideas, introductions to his discourse, and considerations of the framework of wooden houses or wooden churches. Uchida's paper analyzes the wooden structures seen in St. Paul's Church and home and office in Kogaimachi, and considers the reasons why Raymond's wooden works should be called "wooden modernism," touching on the structural form of both.1) However, to the best of my knowledge, I have not been able to find any research that analyzes works by focusing on the structural composition of the Catholic Shibata Church or the relationship between the structural structures of wooden churches and wooden houses. This research not only deepens our understanding of Raymond's design ideas, but also contributes to a deeper understanding of the ideas behind frameworks that are not based on the function of the building.

About 75% of the Japanese archipelago is mountainous. For this reason, mountains are often located near where people live in Japan. Sloping land is three-dimensional, with a complex interplay of various elements, which can be thought of as a myriad of housing configurations. This study focuses on the diversity of ways in which horizontal surfaces were created at the initial stage of designing houses on sloping sites and analyzes and discusses them. This study will clarify the influence of the sloping site on the housing composition. The study also aims to provide a guide for designing houses on sloping sites by presenting a model of the house structure and the criteria for the placement of each element. Previous research on this study has focused on the spatial characteristics of houses built on sloped sites. However, there are no studies that focus on how these spaces are created or how horizontal surfaces are created on sloping sites. Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture, the subject of the survey, has little flat land and is close to the sea and mountains. Since the establishment of the naval base Kure in 1889, the city has developed rapidly, and its population has increased. As a result, human settlements have spread into the mountainous areas. I conducted a measured survey of the residential portion of the slope. Horizontal surfaces and built-up and reclaimed land were identified, and housing components were plotted. Focusing on the initial stage of design on the slope, the creation of horizontal surfaces, the survey was classified into seven types, and the surrounding topography, housing type, and other factors were sorted out. For four of the seven types, housing component models were created to show the criteria for the placement of each element.

In the past, our ancestors lived around fire. The Latin word "focus" means fireplace, suggesting that the center of our gatherings was always fire. Frank Lloyd Wright was also an architect who was interested in spending time around fire and always wanted to feel close to fire. Wright said that "the fireplace is the center of the entire living room and the building itself," and designed more than 1,000 fireplaces in his lifetime. Wright's career as an architect is broadly divided into three periods, and the style of the houses changed depending on the era in which he designed. However, it is noteworthy that fireplaces were always incorporated into the design regardless of the change in the era. In this study, we will similarly conduct four analyses of Wright's 17 houses studied, namely 1. fireplace placement, 2. traffic flow plan, 3. living room line of sight, and 4. detailed analysis of fireplaces, to gain new insights into how Wright's residential style evolved throughout his 70-year career as an architect and how the living room and fireplace became important as the center of the building accordingly. From these analyses, we can conclude that 1. the placement of the fireplace went from being an independent box to being integrated into the living room, and then being dismantled along with the living room, thus contributing to the destruction of the box, 2. the living room changed from a passing point to a destination in the traffic flow plan, and 3. the fireplace was designed to face the people and space in the living room. Ultimately, we learned that Wright wanted to face the fireplace toward the living room, while planning the placement of the fireplace in accordance with the transformation of living room spaces over the years.

Maintaining road infrastructure is critical to urban mobility, economic growth, and public safety. In Bandung City, Indonesia, over 30% of roads are in poor condition, posing significant challenges for efficient maintenance. Traditional manual road damage detection methods are labor-intensive, prone to errors, and inefficient. To address this, an AI-powered hybrid system combining YOLOv8 and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) was developed for real-time road damage detection and classification. High-resolution images of Bandung’s roads were processed to create a diverse dataset encompassing cracks, potholes, and other defects. YOLOv8 identified damaged regions rapidly, while CNN provided precise classification. The hybrid model achieved an average accuracy of 93.06% with consistent performance across various datasets, outperforming traditional and standalone AI methods. By streamlining road damage detection, this system optimizes resource allocation, enhances maintenance prioritization, and supports sustainable urban mobility. The proposed approach demonstrates scalability and effectiveness, making it a viable solution for road infrastructure management in Bandung and similar urban areas.

As integral components of urban green spaces, forest parks not only fulfill essential ecological functions but also offer substantial psychological restorative benefits, serving as vital settings for urban residents to alleviate stress and enhance mental well-being. However, existing research on the restorative effects of forest parks has primarily examined individual sensory dimensions in isolation, with limited attention given to the integrated role of audiovisual perception and its relationship with visitors' environmental preferences. This study aims to bridge this gap by evaluating the influence of audiovisual perception on the restorative benefits of forest parks and exploring its association with recreationists’ environmental preferences. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted among visitors to Seita no Mori Park in Kitakyushu City, and a one-way ANOVA was employed to analyze the pathways through which different perceptual dimensions contribute to restorative benefits, alongside the moderating effects of environmental preferences and behavioral patterns. The results reveal that audiovisual perception significantly impacts the psychological restorative benefits of forest parks, with auditory perception playing a more dominant role in shaping restorative experiences. Furthermore, key environmental attributes, including charisma, remoteness, extensibility, and compatibility of urban forest trail environments—were found to strongly influence visitors' restorative evaluations, with charisma emerging as the most influential factor, accounting for 83.3% of the variance in restorative evaluations. These findings underscore the intricate interplay between audiovisual perception and environmental preferences, providing valuable insights into the evidence-based design and management of forest parks. Ultimately, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of how urban green spaces can be optimized to enhance public mental health and well-being.

With the rapid progression of technological innovations, intelligent landscape architecture has surfaced as a burgeoning trend. The evolution of such sophisticated landscape systems necessitates an extensive reservoir of skilled professionals and a robust foundation of technological assets. This study employs the Dougong, a distinctive architectural element of Chinese tradition, as a case study. By establishing a framework comprising "Initial Deliberation (attention - perspective - attitude)", "Breadth Deliberation (low-order - breadth)", "Depth Deliberation (high-order - depth)", and "Internalization Deliberation (innovation - challenge - warmth - height)", a progressive pedagogical model is developed, facilitating a layered and advancing approach to teaching. The research delves into the interdisciplinary integration of intelligent landscape architecture, focusing on the inheritance and innovative design within this field. The outcomes of this interdisciplinary approach to intelligent landscape architecture have been notably successful, as evidenced by numerous accolades in both national and international competitions.

This paper explores the city branding strategies used by countries to strengthen the positioning of their satellite cities. This research has performed a comprehensive analysis of the literature about the city branding of satellite cities worldwide. Drawing upon a systematic literature review, networking map, and comparative analysis, it shows that imaginaries of satellite cities' competition and city branding are still superficially internalized in urban planning as part of optimizing supporting spaces for transportation and settlement. Implementing a new framework approach to city branding in satellite cities can facilitate a more comprehensive evaluation of the city's prerequisites. The findings can be neatly categorized into five distinct research challenges: urban development and planning, city branding and tourism, perceptions and strategic approaches, urban policy and smart city initiatives, and economic growth and modernization. The concept of city branding for satellite cities is further divided into several kind strategies, such as offering housing and lifestyle, implementing neotraditional urban design, making functional specialization, and promoting accessibility and connectivity.

This study examines the relationship between vernacular settlements and foodscapes in Mueang Khong Valley, a culturally and ecologically significant region within a UNESCO biosphere reserve. Located in Chiang Mai, Thailand, this valley serves as a representative of traditional valley settlements, renowned for its rich natural resources and cultural heritage. However, it faces increasing pressures from agricultural transitions, expanding tourism, and environmental challenges. Vernacular settlements and foodscapes are deeply interconnected, shaping cultural identity and ecological sustainability. The valley’s geography influences settlement patterns and agricultural practices, fostering a distinct way of life. Using qualitative fieldwork, including spatial mapping, interviews, and observations, this research explores how built environments accommodate food production and how foodscapes influence architectural adaptation. Findings highlight that spatial organization, food systems, and architecture are interwoven, ensuring cultural resilience and economic sustainability. Tourism has reshaped land use, introducing both opportunities and challenges that require adaptive strategies. To ensure long-term sustainability, conservation must integrate vernacular architecture with eco-conscious practices, while tourism strategies should highlight local foodscapes. Positioning Mueang Khong as a destination that harmonizes settlements and foodscapes will support cultural preservation and sustainable development.

This study presents a simplified approach to mapping and spatial analysis in rural areas using freely available Google Earth imagery and VARI. Focusing on Sentol Hamlet, Madura, we used this method to assess vegetation changes over time, employing AI to process images from various satellite sources. Our results reveal clear seasonal variations in vegetation health, reflecting regional climate patterns and highlighting periods of drought stress. We also used AI to identify the sources of satellite images, helping to understand image quality variations. While effective for tracking long-term vegetation trends, this method has limitations due to image resolution and the lack of infrared data in standard Google Earth imagery. Future research could explore higher-resolution data and application of this research’s analysis techniques for other architectural and urban elements. This work contributes to the search of an accessible and possible analysis method for image analysis for architecture, demonstrating how satellite imagery in RGB format can support land monitoring and understand a site’s climate resilience and rural development.

The urbanization process plays a crucial role in shaping human walking behavior and has profound implications for urban vitality, health, and environmental sustainability. However, existing studies primarily focus on individual walking behaviors and pay insufficient attention to the core indicator of pedestrian density, which directly reflects the vitality of public spaces and social interactions. Especially in underdeveloped and moderately developed regions, pedestrian density and its influencing mechanisms in different urbanization levels have not been fully studied. To fill this research gap, this study used the ordinary least squares model to systematically explore the correlation between socio-demographic and built environment factors on pedestrian density. Our study has identified different demands for pedestrian environment optimization at various stages of urbanization development. Based on this, this study suggests that urban planners and policymakers should start from the specific urbanization background of a region and optimize the key factors that affect pedestrian density in a cost-effective way to promote the improvement of street walking behavior and public space vitality.

Biophilic design substantially contributes to improving individuals' psychological and physiological well-being within indoor environments. Exploring the synergistic effects of visual, auditory, and olfactory stimuli on stress recovery can contribute to improving indoor environmental quality. In this study, we measured the Restorative Component Scale (RCS) and electroencephalography (EEG) of 48 young university students. The brain's Lempel-Ziv complexity (LZC) was calculated based on five different coarse-graining algorithms, and their effectiveness in assessing stress recovery was compared. The results indicated that compared to standard indoor environments, the synergistic effects of biophilic visual, auditory, and olfactory stimuli significantly contributed to stress recovery, with RCS increasing by 7.32-13.87 and LZC decreasing by 0.015-0.058. Significant gender differences were observed in the effectiveness of stress recovery across various multisensory environments. The combination of green walls, water sounds, and rose scent (WR) was more effective in promoting recovery for females, while males showed a better response to other biophilic conditions, with LZC reductions being 1.01-2.24 times greater than those observed in females. This study provides a reliable method for personalized stress recovery assessment, offers new insights into the brain's complex activities during stress recovery, and serves as a valuable reference for designing indoor biophilic environments with synergistic visual, auditory, and olfactory stimuli.

Indoor air quality (IAQ) has become a critical area of research due to its profound impact on human health, productivity, and environmental sustainability. This study investigates the technological advancements and interdisciplinary integration of low-cost sensors in IAQ monitoring, utilizing CiteSpace for scientometric analysis. The increasing demand for affordable and reliable monitoring solutions has driven the adoption of low-cost sensors, transforming the field of IAQ research. By analyzing a comprehensive dataset of scientific publications, this study identifies key research clusters, emerging hotspots, and collaborative networks. Technological developments in this domain focus on improving sensor accuracy, reliability, and usability to address practical challenges. Early studies prioritized fundamental monitoring techniques, whereas later research demonstrates a growing trend of interdisciplinary collaboration, integrating innovations in data science, IoT, and environmental engineering. Additionally, this analysis highlights influential authors, journals, and institutions shaping the field, offering valuable insights into the technological evolution and emerging trends. This work provides a robust reference for advancing the application of low-cost sensors in IAQ management.

With increasing global attention on energy consumption, the residential sector, a significant area of energy use, has attracted extensive research focus. As one of the largest energy producers and consumers globally, Russia's end-use energy consumption in the residential sector significantly impacts the nation's overall energy demand. However, studies on end-use energy consumption in Russia remain relatively limited, particularly in the analysis of specific energy sources within households. To address this research gap, this study employs correlation analysis to examine the end-use energy consumption patterns of heating, cooking, electrical appliances, hot water, and lighting, using existing data. The study also considers regional climate differences and energy structure characteristics. By analyzing the relationships between end-use energy consumption and key factors such as population, income, temperature, and housing development, this research identifies the main drivers of residential energy use in Russia. The results indicate that heating accounts for the majority of end-use residential energy consumption, driven by population growth, low temperatures, and housing development. Hot water and cooking also contribute significantly to household energy use. Furthermore, the proportion of natural gas in the energy structure has a notable impact on regional end-use energy consumption, particularly evident in the differences between centralized and personal heating systems. This study provides theoretical support for energy policy development in Russia and offers valuable insights for improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions in cold-climate countries.

The thermal environment in schools is linked to the condition of school buildings and is coupled with the quality of the learning process. Prior research has been undertaken in several nations. Although the examination of the thermal environment in schools has been conducted in Indonesia. Nevertheless, the measurement intervals remain in the short term. This research seeks to assess the thermal environment of elementary schools in Indonesia over an extended measuring period. This report will include measurements performed over four consecutive months during the dry season. Data on air temperature, humidity, and surface temperature have been gathered from six schools in Java and Sumatra Island. The air temperature, humidity of both outdoor and interior classrooms and indoor wall surface temperature were recorded using thermohygrometer loggers. The loggers placed inside the classroom were put in a white plastic box and situated under the table. Meanwhile, the logger placed outside was put in the white wood box to protect them from direct sunlight. The data interval was 15 minutes, collected during a 24-hour period for 4 months. This measurement result confirmed that the outdoor thermal environment in Indonesia during the dry season was very poor during the day, including when schools are open, but is relatively good at night and outside of school hours. It also revealed that the thermal environment in classrooms during daytime lessons is completely inadequate for elementary school students to learn.

Energy demand in the United States (U.S.) has been growing rapidly, with the household sector accounting for 21% of total energy consumption. Understanding the determinants of household energy consumption is critical for achieving energy sustainability. Analyzes data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration over Three time periods (2009-2020) to investigate the key factors influencing household energy use. Using pathway analysis, the study explores the impact of various factors on energy consumption and visualizes the relationships through correlation heat maps and matrices. The result shows that, factors such as the total number of household, GDP and income, changes in heating and cooling demand. The energy mix have a significant impact on total energy consumption. This study provides valuable insights for policymakers to design localized energy efficiency strategies to mitigate the rising trend in energy demand and thus promote sustainable residential energy in the United States.

With the development of the rural economy, residents have become increasingly concerned about the indoor environment of their homes, leading to the emergence of various thermal retrofitting measures. This study examines the impact of courtyard sunroom and exterior wall insulation on indoor thermal performance during winter in cold coastal regions, using Qingdao as a case study. Data measurement techniques were employed to compare the indoor thermal performance of two retrofitting methods: courtyard sunroom and exterior wall insulation. The study results indicate that both methods help increase indoor temperatures. Courtyard sunroom outperform exterior wall insulation in enhancing indoor thermal performance and regulating humidity. Traditional adobe north walls also contribute to thermal regulation but are less effective than exterior insulation and courtyard sunroom. However, given the low cost, easy availability, and moisture absorption capacity of adobe, it could serve as a supplementary material in future building retrofits. This study compares the effects of various retrofit measures on the indoor environment and provides a foundation for optimizing and enhancing the thermal performance of rural dwellings.

With the global energy shortage and carbon reduction goals advancing, residential energy consumption demands in-depth research as a significant energy-use domain. In 2022, the final energy consumption of the residential sector in Australia accounted for 14.4% of the total across all industries. This proportion shows the critical role of residential energy consumption in enhancing national energy efficiency and achieving carbon reduction strategies. Based on household energy use data from various Australian states, this study categorizes energy consumption into five major end-use areas: kitchen, heating, appliances, lighting, and cooling. The results indicate that cooling and heating are the primary contributors to household energy consumption, with significant regional differences observed between the cold southern state of Victoria and the hot northern state of Queensland. Victoria consistently recorded the highest per capita usage for kitchen energy consumption over the past five years, while Queensland had the lowest. Through correlation analysis, the study further reveals significant differences and influencing factors in household energy consumption across Australian states. It was found that air conditioning penetration rates account for differences in heating and cooling, while population distribution and household size contribute to variations in kitchen energy use. By uncovering the imbalances in regional energy use, this study provides policymakers with scientific evidence to tailor and optimize energy policies to local conditions. It also offers the public more efficient household energy management strategies, serving as a vital reference for achieving low-carbon transitions and reducing regional energy inequalities.

India is the third-largest contributor to global energy consumption and carbon emissions. With the acceleration of urbanization and the rapid development of the manufacturing industry, its energy demand continues to grow. The residential sector accounts for nearly a quarter of India's energy consumption, so optimizing and transforming residential energy use is critical to achieving its climate goals. In recent years, more and more research has focused on residential energy consumption and its environmental impacts in India. This paper systematically reviews the literature on Indian household energy consumption and related carbon emission, .summarizing key driving factors such as economic factors (household income level, energy price, etc.), policy factors (energy subsidies and reform measures), and social and cultural factors (household size, gender, education level, etc.). The findings reveal significant regional and rural-urban differences in energy use and carbon emission patterns in India, and that the evolution of lifestyles as well as the adoption of technologies have also had a significant impact on energy demand and carbon emissions. This paper identifies critical mechanisms influencing household energy consumption and carbon emissions and proposes future research directions to address data gaps and emerging challenges. It aims to provide a reference for subsequent academic research and practical suggestions for policymakers.

Facing the global climate action, it is imperative to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. In Japan, energy consumption and carbon emissions have been mitigated under policy-driven measures, but residential energy consumption still accounts for 15% of total energy consumption. This study analyzes household energy consumption in Hokkaido and Kyushu from 2005 to 2022, categorizing it into four end-uses: cooking/hot water, heating, cooling, and power/lighting. The results reveal a declining trend in total household energy consumption, with Hokkaido decreasing from 219.7 PJ to 178.7 PJ (a reduction of 18.7%) and Kyushu from 208.9 PJ to 158.3 PJ (a reduction of 24.2%). In Hokkaido, heating remains the dominant energy use due to its subarctic climate, while cooking/hot water consumption is higher in Kyushu. The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake led to an increase in fossil fuel consumption, causing a surge in carbon emissions, with emissions reaching 4.5Mt CO2 in Hokkaido and 6.3Mt CO2 in Kyushu. However, emissions have since declined to 3.3Mt CO2 t and 4.2Mt CO2, respectively, by 2022. These findings highlight the influence of climate and household characteristics on regional energy consumption and underscore the need to accelerate renewable energy adoption and improve power generation efficiency. This study provides insights for future policy development to enhance energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

In recent years, the significant growth of household energy consumption in South Korea's cities has aroused widespread concern about energy sustainability. The purpose of this study is to explore the household energy consumption pattern and its driving factors in South Korea and provide scientific basis for policy making. Based on the statistical data from 2015 to 2021, a framework of residential energy consumption pattern was established by using multiple regression model. The results are analyzed, and the total consumption and classification consumption are discussed, and make recommendations for the formulation of Korean policy. The results show that space heating and electrical energy use are the main sources of urban household energy consumption. This study not only provides theoretical support for energy policy making in South Korea, but also has important social significance for improving energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving carbon neutrality in South Korea.

With the continuous growth in global energy demand, household end-use energy consumption and its associated carbon emissions have become critical issues in addressing climate change. In African countries, household energy consumption plays a vital role in shaping the energy structure and achieving sustainable development. However, it faces significant challenges, including heavy reliance on traditional energy sources, unequal access to energy, and inadequate infrastructure.This study reviews household energy consumption patterns and influencing factors in Ethiopia, South Africa, and Egypt, highlighting significant regional differences in energy usage and determinants. In Ethiopia, over 90% of rural households rely on firewood for cooking, with only 3.14% using clean energy sources. A Multivariate Probit (MVP) model was applied to identify key factors affecting energy choices, such as income levels, proximity to markets, and infrastructure availability.In South Africa, extensive household surveys combined with energy transition theory reveal that electricity access significantly influences fuel choices. Despite achieving over 80% electrification, rural areas still rely heavily on firewood and coal, while low-income households frequently adopt multi-energy usage patterns.In contrast, urban households in Egypt have achieved near-universal electrification, with natural gas dominating as the primary energy source for cooking and heating. However, rural areas still face disparities in electricity access and energy efficiency.These findings underscore the necessity of addressing infrastructure limitations, bridging urban-rural gaps, and enhancing energy efficiency to promote modern energy adoption in African countries.

Household energy consumption accounts for a significant proportion of total energy use and carbon emissions, with its structure and efficiency having a direct impact on energy security and the achievement of carbon neutrality goals. This study focuses on the European region, integrating statistical data from multiple countries and categorizing household end-use energy consumption into five categories: heating, cooling, water heating, cooking, and household appliances. From the perspective of household characteristics, the study analyzes the current state of end-use energy consumption and regional differences, calculates carbon emissions, identifies key influencing factors, and explores pathways for emission reduction. The results show that household energy consumption in Europe is primarily concentrated in heating, water heating, and household appliances, with heating accounting for the largest share and exhibiting the highest carbon emission intensity. The findings provide robust references for energy-saving and emission-reduction efforts at the household level in Europe.

Indonesia's residential energy consumption has increased by 6.5%–7% annually, driven by rapid development and population growth. Cooling systems account for 45%–70% of energy use in tropical regions like East Kalimantan, where high temperatures, humidity, and solar radiation exacerbate thermal loads. The New Capital Nusantara (IKN) state civil service (ASN)-defense and security (HanKam) Flats (Rusunawa) project, part of the capital relocation, highlights the need for energy-efficient design. This study optimizes building facades from its transparent material to reduce thermal loads and cooling energy consumption through non-structural modifications aligned with SNI 03-6389-2020, targeting an OTTV ≤ 35 W/m2. Key parameters include lowering U-Value, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC), and window to wall ratio (WWR), prioritizing transparent areas due to their significant impact on thermal loads. Simulations using EnergyPlus in OpenStudio compare existing and optimized conditions, revealing that WWR optimization and glass material replacement effectively reduce cooling loads, with a combined approach offering the greatest energy savings

In recent years, household energy consumption in Japan has been on a declining trend due to changes in lifestyle, advancements in energy-efficient technologies, and national energy policies. However, the residential sector remains a major energy consumer, accounting for approximately 28.9% of total electricity consumption. This study aims to analyze real-world household energy consumption patterns, focusing on seasonal variations and key influencing factors. A field survey was conducted in a residential house equipped with a Home Energy Management System (HEMS) to collect detailed energy consumption data over 11 months. The study categorized household electricity consumption into different uses, such as heating, cooling, hot water supply, cooking, and power/lighting. Results showed that energy consumption peaks in winter, with air conditioning being the dominant electricity-consuming appliance. A significant finding was the influence of pet ownership on energy consumption; in the roadside section of the house, air conditioning was operated continuously to maintain a stable indoor temperature for pet cats, leading to higher electricity use compared to other sections. Further analysis revealed that air conditioning power consumption was closely related to outdoor temperature and human activity patterns, but continuous operation for pets resulted in relatively stable and efficient energy use. The study highlights the growing trend of pet-friendly housing and its implications for residential energy consumption.

Perforation and inclination angles are key factors that influence the performance of the heat exchangers. In this study, experiments were conducted on solid and perforated spiral fin heat exchangers (SSHX and PSHX) at five inclination angles. The instantaneous temperatures and heat transfer rates were compared, and the heat transfer intensity of convection flow were calculated. The results show that the inclination angle can significantly influence the phase change process of SSHX and PSHX. The perforation can enhance the internal convection flows of the heat exchangers at all angles, especially for the vertical orientation with a significant melting rate increase, but such heat transfer contributions are diminished as the angle towards the horizontal orientation.

With the development of society, excessive greenhouse gas emissions have increased the process of global warming. Severe climate change in the future will seriously affect human production and life. Therefore the research on how to make the energy system more energy efficient and reduce pollutant emissions becomes crucial. In this study, the performance and energy saving effect of using variable speed pumping strategy applied to ice storage system is investigated based on the case of actual ice storage system. The results show that the application of the variable speed pump operation strategy in the ice storage system will have some energy saving effect and reduce the annual operation cost by about 4% relative to the constant frequency pump operation strategy. This study also investigates the energy efficiency and adaptability of cooling system operation in different climate zones and future temporal frameworks based on measured meteorological data from different climate zones and the CMIP6 climate prediction model. It was found that Guangzhou city, which is located in the hot summer and warm winter zones and has higher annual cooling load demand, has the best energy saving effect by using the variable frequency pump strategy. And in the background of future climate change, compared with the baseline scenario, the ice storage system with variable speed pumping strategy is better adapted and more energy efficient, with annual total energy savings of 37.46%-43%, total cooling capacity savings of 46.53%-53.07%, and total operating cost savings of 38.5%-45.32%.

Acoustics conditions significantly influence user satisfaction and productivity in library. There are several factors that affect acoustics conditions in the building such as noise level, distance of the building from the noise source, barrier, and the material of the building insulation. This study aims to examine the acoustics comfort of Kitakyushu Science and Research Park Library which is support and provide access to a diverse education learning resource in KSRP environment. The method in this study uses an approach with field measurements and data processing through Noisetools.net and IBANA-Calc software. The data obtained is compared and evaluated with standard regulation for acoustic comfort. This study emphasizes the need for targeted acoustics improvements to optimize acoustics comfort in the building. Building materials and barrier object are influential factors for reducing noise levels. The integration of advanced simulation tools provides an optimal framework for analyzing and addressing acoustic challenges in public spaces.

In the context of global climate targets, the use of low Embodied Carbon (EC) biomaterials in building construction offers a promising solution by reducing emissions and sequestering carbon. The application of biomaterials in building industry not only realizes carbon emission reduction but also achieves carbon sequestration, while improving transparency in carbon accounting using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). However, the significant variability exists in how the embodied carbon of these materials is assessed, largely due to methodological inconsistencies. This study conducted a systematic review of existing research on the embodied carbon footprint of key biological building materials such as Mycelium Based Composite (MBC), Hemp Concrete (HC) and Engineered Wood Product (EWP). By establishing a comprehensive framework based on methodological dimensions, namely temporal, procedural and physical, this review aims to standardize the assessment of embodied carbon in biological materials. The methodology involves systematic literature review, qualitative summarization and quantitative investigation about the key variable influencing the EC footprint for biological building materials. Drawing on a meta-analysis of biomaterials in building construction studies published between 2015 and 2024, this study identifies the most significant variables influencing the EC footprint of biomaterials. A normalization process is applied to harmonize discrepancies across studies, enabling valid cross-case comparisons. Key findings reveal that variations in LCA methods, system boundaries, scale of units, functional units, intended use, material composition, fabrication and geographical boundary can lead to substantial differences in reported EC values. The study has provided a theoretical foundation for exploring the relation between the EC of different biomaterials and their variations.

To address the issues of slow heating and low efficiency in traditional encased phase change material (PCM) radiant floor heating systems (RFHS), this paper innovatively employs CFD numerical simulations to enhance system performance by adjusting the phase change temperature range of the PCM. Three temperature ranges, 298-303K, 303-308K, and 308-313K, were analyzed for their PCM thermal states, dynamic temperature trends, spatial temperature distribution, and heat flux. The results indicate that under a water temperature condition of 323K, the 303-308K range is the optimal phase change temperature for the encased PCM radiant floor heating system. This range achieves the highest PCM utilization rate, with the liquid fraction reaching 1 before the end of the heating phase, 9.89% higher than the 0.91 in the 308-313K range, and decreasing to 0.102 by the end of the cooling phase, 71.02% lower than the 0.352 in the 298-303K range. Furthermore, the temperature fluctuation on the floor surface within this range is the most stable, with a temperature difference of 5.75K, 10.58% lower than the 6.43K in the 298-303K range and 3.85% lower than the 5.98K in the 308-313K range. These findings provide theoretical support for optimizing and applying encased PCM thermal storage floor heating systems.

Flooding poses a significant challenge to Sukhothai Province, Thailand, due to its lowland terrain and the 170-kilometer-long Yom River, which frequently overflows during the rainy season. In 2023, devastating floods affected over 209,600,000 square meters, equivalent to 3.18% of the province's area, severely damaging homes and agriculture. This study investigates the historical context, geographical factors, and flood-related risks in Sukhothai, with a focus on the Pak-khware sub-district, one of the most affected areas. Emphasis is placed on understanding the impacts of floods on children, who face challenges in health, education, and emotional well-being. The paper explores strategies to raise flood awareness among children using interactive tools like games and storytelling. By highlighting these aspects, the study aims to contribute to developing effective disaster preparedness and resilience-building strategies for the community.

In major natural disasters, a large-scale short-term relocation phenomenon often occurs among residents. Studying relocation behavior during disasters is of great significance for urban public governance and disaster prevention planning. However, the internal driving mechanisms behind individual relocation behavior during disasters have received relatively little attention. This study takes the 7.20 major rainstorm and flood disaster in Zhengzhou as a case study, conducting an online survey to analyze the relocation behavior characteristics of residents during the rainstorm disaster, using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) framework to examine the driving mechanisms behind their behavior. A total of 386 residents from Zhengzhou voluntarily participated in the online survey. The results show that approximately 35% of the respondents conducted short-term relocation during the rainstorm disaster. Attitude (ATT) and subjective norm (SN) significantly affected the disaster relocation intention (INT), while perceived behavioral control (PBC) had no significant effect on the intention. The intention (INT) had a significant positive effect on the residents’ disaster relocation behavior. By studying the influencing factors and driving mechanisms of residents’ relocation behavior during disasters, this research provides insights for urban managers to understand and predict individual relocation behavior during disasters, helping to formulate disaster management policies.

Global warming has significantly increased the frequency and intensity of rainstorm and flood disasters, highlighting the critical importance of accurately identifying at-risk populations during such events. Traditionally, this process has heavily relied on expert judgment, which, while valuable, often lacks the precision and scalability required in rapidly evolving disaster scenarios. The emergence of spatiotemporal big data presents a transformative opportunity to enhance the identification of at-risk populations. This study proposes a novel methodology for detecting abnormal crowd gathering hotspots during disasters, leveraging high-resolution Wi-Fi handshake data. An empirical analysis of the September 7, 2023, rainstorm and flood disaster in Shenzhen demonstrates the effectiveness of this approach, revealing the presence of numerous unofficial shelters within affected areas. These findings offer valuable insights for urban emergency management and disaster prevention strategies, providing actionable guidance for the efficient allocation of rescue resources and the scientific planning of dual-use shelters designed to function effectively during both disaster and non-disaster periods.

This study examines the environmental resources of Yuanshan Township, Yilan County, focusing on the relationship between local living spaces and water resources through historical analysis. It explores the impacts of industrial revitalization and regional transportation development on local resources and community structures. With water resources at its core, the study analyzes their historical significance and the transformations in transportation, culture, ecology, and industry. It proposes integrating natural and cultural landscapes to create ecological corridors that promote local revitalization, environmental conservation, rural transformation, and sustainable urban-rural development.Yuanshan Township, located at the foothills of the Snow Mountain Range, is known as the "Water Township" for its abundant natural water resources, including the Lanyang River and agricultural irrigation canals. The study traces the historical development of water resources, analyzing their role in the rise and decline of settlements, and seeks to redefine their value amid modern industrial and agricultural challenges, offering insights for future sustainable settlement development.

City Park is one of the public spaces that have many benefits for cities, such as improving the mental health of residents and sustainable environmental quality. The performance and comfort of city parks need to be considered so that these public spaces can function optimally. This study analyzes the comfort level of noise in one specific public space in Bengkulu City. Berkas Beach Park was chosen as the object of the research location that represents the type of urban park in the coastal area. Data was collected by direct measurement of noise conditions using sound level meters at 13 points that were evenly distributed in the Berkas Beach Park site. After that, the data was analyzed using Surfer simulation and comparative statistical technique analysis to get an overview of the noise conditions spreading maps. The results of the findings show that the noise in Berkas Beach Park is in an uncomfortable situation, due to the noise level is 10 dB higher than the standard allowed. This condition requires further action to present the comfortable quality in the environment of Berkas Beach Park. Thus, the results of this study can be a reference in order to improving the design of Berkas Beach Park as a public green open space in the coastal area of Bengkulu City.