Improving the thermal insulation of houses is a practical approach to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by reducing energy consumption and protecting occupants’ health from cold indoor environments. An evaluation framework was revised in 2022 to increase thermal insulation performance. This study applied an evaluation method, which quantified the contribution of housing performance to accomplish the SDGs, to a case study based on the framework. The results demonstrated the effectiveness of improving performance in achieving SDGs. Regarding SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), the predicted blood pressure for Grade 7 was 1.8 mmHg lower than that of Grade 4.

In this study, a new air conditioning system combining ceiling cassette type air conditioning and membrane ceiling is proposed. A full-scale experiment was conducted to assess the heating performance of two types of ceiling systems: ceiling cassette and membrane ceiling, with and without non-woven fabric. The results show that in the membrane system with non-woven fabric, warm air escaping from the membrane from the membrane mixed with the downward airflow along the cooling surface, reaching the lower part of the room more quickly. The calculation method used to determine the downward airflow along the cooling surface and solve for air volume and heat balance demonstrated high reproducibility with the measured room temperatures.

In these days of carbon neutrality, reducing energy consumption from air conditioning in buildings is crucial. Particularly at building entrances and exits, heat loss due to outside air infiltration poses a challenge. Although numerous studies have been conducted on air curtains (ACs), an optimal design method has yet to be established, and the accuracy of analysis and computational load remain insufficient for evaluation through computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Therefore, this study aims to propose a CFD modeling method for ACs by conducting full-scale experiments and detailed analysis by CFD, and using the P.V. method, which offers a simplified analysis. The ultimate objective is to evaluate AC performance in large spaces using CFD.

The wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) is a widely used index correlating with the risk of heat stroke. The IS07243 specifies a calculation formula for WBGT, which relies on natural wet-bulb temperature, air temperature, and black globe temperature. However, obtaining natural wet-bulb temperature using ISO-compliant measuring instruments requires significant effort to manage wick moisture. Therefore, several alternative methods have been proposed as substitutes for measuring natural wet-bulb temperature. This paper examines three major alternatives by utilizing outdoor observation data of natural wet-bulb temperature. Liljergen’s method, which considers the shape of the wick, was found to accurately reproduce WBGT in radiation fields including direct solar radiation. The WBGT calculation formula by ISO conversion was confirmed to be able to approximately reproduce WBGT throughout the daytime period in outdoor environments. Notably, using wet-bulb temperature as a proxy for natural wet-bulb temperature tends to underestimate WBGT compared to the ISO-compliant measuring instruments.

This paper describes an energy-independent research facility embodying the design concept of “sustainable architecture aimed at reducing global environmental impact and improving intellectual productivity.” , The facility began operating in March 2020. During the operational stage, we evaluated and verified the annual supply and demand of energy, the operational performance of renewable energy, and the ZEB (Zero Energy Building) achievement status. We confirmed the effectiveness of introducing renewable energies such as solar and biomass combined heat and power system, as well as large-capacity storage batteries added after construction completion. In addition, the office building has achieved “ZEB” for three consecutive years, with the entire site achieving “Nearly ZEB” status. It was also confirmed that since 2021, the facility has achieved carbon neutrality, with no use of fossil fuels whatsoever.