Energy Efficiency, Environment and Health Volume I

• Other Authors: González Lezcano, Roberto Alonso (Editor), Nocera, Francesco (Editor), Caponetto, Rosa Giuseppina (Editor)
• Format: Electronic Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute 2023
• Subjects: Technology: general issues; History of engineering & technology; environmentally friendly processing; wastewater; thermal comfort; air quality monitoring; indoor environment quality; building innovation systems; health outcomes; smart home for health; efficient interior lighting systems; acoustics; environmental buildings; passive building strategies; air pollution; energy efficiency; sustainable materials; green architecture; healthy architecture; sustainable construction; smart construction; high-performance building; sustainable processes; energy policy; green energy; energy environmental impact
• Online Access: DOAB: download the publication; DOAB: description of the publication

Cities are widely recognized as environments which can present risks to humans. Risks to health and well-being are measured in three groups of indices: physiological, emotional, and cognitive. The environmental factors discussed in studies include physical factors such as noise, heat load, and air pollution, and social factors include feelings of discomfort, crime, transportation, and access to health services. Some studies even argue that stress and health risks are intrinsic to urban environments and that restoration is intrinsic to green environments. This Topic aims to discuss what spaces can be greened and the effect this has on urban environments. It also discusses the effect of the size and layout of parks, vegetation on the walls and roofs of houses, and the effects of different types of vegetation, building materials, and energy-efficient design. Today's environment demands new design processes, construction techniques, occupancy practices, and management strategies to increase the resilience of the built environment to extreme, uncontrollable, and unpredictable events while providing healthy and sustainable environments for people. This Topic reflects on what the new concept of sustainability for the built environment should be and how to guide new research directions.