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Biomimetic reinvention of the construction industry: energy management and sustainability
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Energy Procedia 142 Energy Procedia 00(2017) (2017)2721–2727 000–000 www.elsevier.com/locate/procedia
9th International Conference on Applied Energy, ICAE2017, 21-24 August 2017, Cardiff, UK
Biomimetic reinvention of the construction industry: energy The 15th International Symposium on District Heating and Cooling management and sustainability Assessing the feasibility of using the heat demand-outdoor a b Olusegun Aanuoluwapo Oguntonaa*, Clinton Ohis Aigbavboab temperature function for Research a long-term district heat demand forecast Sustainable Centre, University of of Sustainable Human Human Settlement Settlement and and Construction Construction Research Centre, Faculty Faculty of of Engineering Engineering and and the the Built Built Environment, Environment, University a,b a,b
Johannesburg, Johannesburg, Johanesburg, Johanesburg, South South Africa Africa
I. Andrića,b,c*, A. Pinaa, P. Ferrãoa, J. Fournierb., B. Lacarrièrec, O. Le Correc a Abstract IN+ Center for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research - Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal Abstract b
Veolia Recherche & Innovation, 291 Avenue Dreyfous Daniel, 78520 Limay, France
c Département Systèmes et Environnement - IMTand Atlantique, 4 rue Alfred Kastler, 44300 France High energy use, use, consumption and depletion natural environmental degradation and pollution are High energy consumption andÉnergétiques depletion of of natural resources, resources, and environmental degradation and Nantes, pollution are few few of of the the numerous impacts impacts of of the the construction construction industry. industry. These These are are traceable traceable to to the the unsustainable unsustainable construction construction practices practices employed employed by by most most numerous of the the construction of construction industry industry globally. globally. Hence, Hence, the the need need for for effective effective energy energy management management and and sustainability. sustainability. With With biomimicry, biomimicry, the the study to offer offer sustainable sustainable solutions solutions to to human human challenges, challenges, an an era era of of novel novel and and eco-friendly eco-friendly source source study and and emulation emulation of of nature’s nature’s entirety entirety to ofAbstract inspiration is is heralded. heralded. This This study study sets sets out out to to examine examine the the biomimetic biomimetic energy energy management management and and sustainability sustainability for for the the reinvention reinvention of inspiration of the the construction construction industry. industry. Literature Literature review review was was conducted conducted on on nature-inspired nature-inspired ways ways and and strategies strategies of of energy energy management management and and of District heating networks addressed in the literature as one of the as most effective solutions for decreasing the sustainability. Findings fromarethe thecommonly study revealed revealed technology, policy, and and education major areas where where biomimicry seeks to to sustainability. Findings from study technology, policy, education as major areas biomimicry seeks greenhouseaddress gas emissions from the building sector. These systems require high investments which are returned through the heat sustainably energy challenges. The adoption and application of biomimetic strategies is important, as it offers much sustainably address energy challenges. The adoption and application of biomimetic strategies is important, as it offers much sales. Dueenergy to the changed climate conditions and building renovation policies, heat demand in the future could decrease, potential potential in in energy management management and and sustainability. sustainability. prolonging the investment return period. © 2017 2017 The The Authors. Authors. Published Published by by Elsevier Elsevier Ltd. Ltd. © ©The 2017 Thescope Authors. Published Ltd. main this paper isby to Elsevier assess the feasibility of using demand –Conference outdoor temperature function Peer-review underofresponsibility responsibility of the scientific committee of the thethe 9thheat International on Applied Applied Energy.for heat demand Peer-review under of the scientific committee of 9th International Conference on on Energy. Peer-review under responsibility of thelocated scientific committee of the 9th International Applied Energy. forecast. The district of Alvalade, in Lisbon (Portugal), was used as aConference case study. The district is consisted of 665 buildingsNature-inspired; that vary in both construction period and industry typology. Three weather scenarios (low, medium, high) and three district Keywords: bimimicry; energy; construction Keywords: Nature-inspired; bimimicry; energy; construction industry renovation scenarios were developed (shallow, intermediate, deep). To estimate the error, obtained heat demand values were compared with results from a dynamic heat demand model, previously developed and validated by the authors. The results showed that when only weather change is considered, the margin of error could be acceptable for some applications 1. Introduction 1.(the Introduction error in annual demand was lower than 20% for all weather scenarios considered). However, after introducing renovation scenarios, the error value increased up to 59.5% (depending on the weather and renovation scenarios combination considered). The construction construction industry industry plays plays aa cogent cogent part part in in improving improving the the population’s quality quality of of life life and and in in meeting meeting the the The The value of slope coefficient increased on average within the range of population’s 3.8% up to 8% per decade, that corresponds to the requirements and needs of the society in question [1]. The use of construction investments as a tool by the government requirements and needsofofheating the society Thethe useheating of construction investments as combination a tool by theofgovernment decrease in the number hoursinofquestion 22-139h[1]. during season (depending on the weather and to stabilize economy also position in national development strategy of many torenovation stabilize the the economy also shows shows the industry’s key position in the theincreased national for development strategy of(depending many countries countries scenarios considered). On the the industry’s other hand,key function intercept 7.8-12.7% per decade on the [2]. As by Shivalues et al. al. [3], [3], urbanization closely linked to the industry to its coupled scenarios). suggested could beis to modify parameters for the owing scenarios and [2]. As affirmed affirmed byThe Shi et urbanization isused closely linkedthe to function the construction construction industry owing to considered, its associated associated improve the accuracy of heat demand estimations.
© 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Peer-review under responsibility of the Scientific Committee of The 15th International Symposium on District Heating and * Corresponding Corresponding author. author. Tel.: Tel.: +27-74-207-6075. +27-74-207-6075. * Cooling. E-mail address: address: [email protected]. [email protected]. E-mail
Keywords: Heat demand; Forecast; Climate change 1876-6102 © © 2017 2017 The The Authors. Authors. Published Published by by Elsevier Elsevier Ltd. Ltd. 1876-6102 Peer-review Peer-review under under responsibility responsibility of of the the scientific scientific committee committee of of the the 9th 9th International International Conference Conference on on Applied Applied Energy. Energy. 1876-6102 © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Peer-review under responsibility of the Scientific Committee of The 15th International Symposium on District Heating and Cooling.
1876-6102 © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the 9th International Conference on Applied Energy. 10.1016/j.egypro.2017.12.216
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developments through provision of infrastructures. These include the provision of critical infrastructure such as bridges, roads, rail, water and wastewater treatment plants, plants for the production and transmission of energy, and facility assets such as office and residential buildings [4]. These products of the construction industry – buildings and infrastructure – have a long-term negative impact on the environment and the inhabitants as they continuously emit large amounts of pollution [5]. Use of fossil fuel, generic resources and mineral consumption, waste production requiring land disposal, and pollution of the living environment are identified as forming part of the environmental impacts of construction [5,6]. The replacement of forests and vegetation by impervious concrete surfaces of roads and buildings [7] attests to the belief that the industry negatively impacts the environment. Table 1 summarizes the main environmental and social impacts of the construction industry according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Table 1. Environmental and social impacts of the construction industry [8]. Impacts 1
Energy use and associated emissions of GHGs covered by the UNFCCC/Kyoto Protocol. These include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and perfluorocarbons (PFCs).
2
Other indoor and outdoor emissions.
3
Noise pollution.
4
Land use change, including clearing of existing flora.
5
Raw material extraction and consumption; related resource depletion.
6
Aesthetic degradation.
7
Water use and waste water generation.
8
Increased transport needs (depending on citing).
9
Various effects of transport of building materials both locally and globally.
10
Waste generation.
11
Opportunities for corruption.
12
Disruption of communities, including through inappropriate design and materials.
13
Health risks on worksites and for building occupants.
Globally, one of the major and widely reported characteristics of the construction industry is its consumption of large amounts of energy. This is energy consumed during the manufacturing of building materials (‘embedded’ or ‘embodied’ energy), transporting these materials from production plants to building sites (‘grey’ energy), constructing the building/structure (‘induced’ energy), operating the building/structure (‘operational’ energy) and demolishing the building/structure and recycling of its parts, where this occurs [4]. For instance, buildings in use account for about 50 percent of total energy used in the United Kingdom (UK) and the construction phase accounts for another 5-10 percent [9]. In China, the construction industry consumes around 28 percent of the total energy, a figure expected to rise to 35 percent [5]. Energy use in buildings for cooling, refrigeration, fire suppression, and in the case of halocarbons, insulation materials also are major emitters of other non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions such as halocarbons, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) [4]. In order to mitigate this, it is imperative to reinvent the construction industry, drawing inspiration from the natural world. Nature has been found to exhibit functional, efficient, effective, eco-friendly as well as aesthetically pleasing attributes through its resulting designs and solutions. Natural organisms manufacture without heat, beat, and treat; ecosystems that runs on sunlight and feedback; and creating opportunities rather than waste. These sustainable attributes are methodologies and approaches all perfected through nature’s research and development (R&D) of its 3.8 billion years of evolution [10]. This has led architects, engineers, designers and innovators to start consulting nature’s superb forms, processes and policies in their quest for solutions to the numerous challenges of sustainability facing the world. Hence, biomimicry, the new field of discipline which studies nature’s models and then emulates their forms, processes, systems, and strategies to solve human problems sustainably [11]. This paper presents biomimetic ways of
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reinventing the construction industry with respect to energy management and sustainability. A review of related studies on biomimetic (nature-inspired) strategies and methodologies on sustainability is presented. The final section provides an overview of the issues discussed in the paper, draws conclusions from the study and recommendations. 2. Reinventing the construction industry The construction industry is far from been sustainable as the industry is yet to fully embrace sustainable practices and make them the norm. The industry is faced with the challenge of environmental management and holistic sustainability. Despite the global movement and shift towards sustainability, especially the adoption of sustainable construction practices, there is little or no deliberate intent by the construction stakeholders towards realigning the industry in tandem with this goal. A report by the United Nations Environment Programme – Sustainable Buildings & Climate Initiative (UNEP-SBCI) suggested prioritizing and a national focus on the building sector as the top two highlevel recommendations for reducing the environmental impact of the construction industry [12]. The transformation of the industry to a sustainable sector has now become a necessity for local economic growth and universal competitiveness. This transformation is also imperative for significant reduction in the production of waste, toxic air emissions, and consumption of natural resources and energy which is synonymous with the industry and globally. The first giant step to redirecting the industry from the conventional way to the sustainable paradigm is to develop indicators through effective government and stakeholders’ participation. Though an enormous task, Kibert [13] suggested a definite change in the mind-set of construction stakeholders with technology, policy, and education as major areas where the changes must take place amongst others. 3. Biomimetic strategies for sustainable reinvention of the construction industry Rather than utilize nature for human advantage and use, biomimicry focuses on the identification and integration of ideas that are predominantly sustainable and amenable to the earth’s capacity [14]. Benyus describes biomimicry as the quest of men and women, exploring nature's masterpieces (photosynthesis, self-assembly, natural selection, selfsustaining ecosystems, eyes and ears and skin and shells, talking neurons, and natural medicines) and then copying these designs and manufacturing processes to solve their own problems [15]. The idea is that nature has developed highly efficient systems and processes, which have the potential to propel solutions to the waste, management and other challenges confronting humanity today [16]. Biomimicry is perceived by many to be some branch of biological science going by the sound of the term: the scientific knowledge within biomimicry only serves as a means through which nature is learnt about [17]. It however, heralds a transition from an era of extracting from nature to learning from its forms, processes and strategies [10]. Since it came into limelight and became popularized, biomimicry has now become the provider of numerous timely and outstanding innovations in areas such as energy engineering and waste re-use, where multiple-scale efficiency improvements are greatly required. Biomimicry as an approach has the potential to solve human challenges since other organisms in nature face, or have faced, many of such challenges and sustainably managed and overcame them [18], notably of which is energy. Biomimetic strategies for the reinvention of the construction industry vis a vis energy management and sustainability is hereby presented in the areas of technology, policy, and education. 3.1. Biomimetic reinvention through technology Biomimicry is gaining overwhelming significance as a wide-spread and global movement in design for environmentally conscious sustainable technologies characterised by its potential to stimulate creative innovations and solutions [19,20]. Biomimicry is now on the forefront of scientific and technological research because it brings about novel insights for the development of efficient and effective technological innovations with sustainable attributes [21]. While it can be used specifically as a method of increasing the sustainability of what has been created [19], it can as well be used in birthing novel inventions and innovations as well [22]. It is acknowledged that the construction industry can mitigate its impact on the environment by adopting technologies and materials that adhere to the principles of sustainability [23,24]. An assessment of several biomimetic materials, technologies and innovations already commercialised, patented or at development stage also reveals their
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potential in offering sustainable specification options to the construction industry. Biomimetic (biological, bioinspired or nature-inspired) materials and technologies are highly organised in a hierarchical manner from the minute to the nanoscale, microscale and macroscale, which ultimately make up a pyramid of diverse function elements [25,26]. This discovery endorsed biomimicry as a problem-solving methodology that continuously results in sustainable, efficient and effective solutions to challenges in the construction industry [27]. As further affirmed by Bhushan [26], nature-inspired materials are known to be multifunctional and exhibiting the following attributes, amongst others: superhydrophobicity, high adhesion, self-cleaning, self-healing, thermal insulation, self-assembly, antireflection, sensory aid mechanisms, high mechanical strength, structural coloration, aerodynamic lift, and energy conversion and conservation. Table 2 below present examples of few biomimetic technological breakthroughs in the areas of energy management and sustainability. Table 2. Biomimetic technologies for energy management and sustainability [28]. Product/Technology/Innovation
Nature inspiration
Function
1
Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells and Panels
Cooke’s koki’o (photosynthesis)
Low-cost and efficiently produced electricity by artificial photosynthesis
2
Eastgate Building, Harare, Zimbabwe
Termites and termite’s mounds
Night cooling, thermal storage and convective air currents regulating temperature thereby reducing energy cost (heating and cooling)
3
HotZoneTM radiant heater, using IrlensTM
Lobster
Spot heater that focuses radiant heat onto users rather than heating an entire space
4
bioWAVETM
Bull kelp
Harnessing wave energy for power generation
5
Biolytix® System
Soil ecosystem
Water treatment ad water filtering system
6
COMOLEVI Forest Canopy
Shade trees
Leaf color and shape enhancing cooling effects
7
Eco-Machine
Forests
Waste water treatment system that purifies water without chemicals
8
Sage Glass, Quantum Glass (Europe)
Bobtail squid and hummingbird
Electrochromic smart windows that provide energy savings by reducing cooling/heating energy costs
9
Aquaporin Membrane TechnologyTM
10
Eco-Cement
Sea snail
Neutral and strength-enhancing carbon sequestering cement
11
Chaac-ha
Spiders and bromeliads
Water system collector for rainwater and dew
3.2. Biomimetic reinvention through policy Biomimicry delivers on triadic levels (form, process, and ecosystem) of increasing requirements in terms of sustainability [20] to achieve solutions, designs and innovations that awe in terms sustainable performance [29]. In biomimicry, nature is core and the underlying policy as postulated by Benyus [10,15] advocates human relationship to nature based on a ‘model, measure, and mentor’ [30,31]. In order to fully appreciate, understand and appropriate biomimicry to solve human problems in a sustainable manner, human relationship has to be orientated towards these three dimensions. It is a policy to be upheld and adopted by stakeholders if biomimicry’s overarching goal of sustainability is to be achieved. Since natural organisms offers novel and enormous potentials for energy management and sustainability through their outstanding attributes, biomimicry therefore helps to tap into this unending depth of insight and inspiration through the model, measure, and mentor policy of viewing nature. Nature as a model entails the study of nature’s forms, processes, and systems and thereafter draws inspiration from these features to tackle human challenges sustainably [27].
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Nature as a measure is concerned with judging and evaluating the sustainability and rightness of human innovations, designs, and solutions with respect to natural standards as displayed through their 3.8 billion years of evolution [27,32]. Nature as a mentor, however, entails a conscious human intent to learn from nature and to develop a mutual relationship and consciousness that nature is part of human existence. It is a new way of viewing and valuing nature, introducing an era based not on what we can extract from the natural world, but what we can learn from it [10,27]. 3.3. Biomimetic reinvention through education Nature presents an indisputable array of high level creativity and innovation [22]. It is certainly beneficial to embrace nature’s processes of optimisation and adapt them to fit present-day human challenges in technologies and materials systems innovation [39]. Studying nature’s materials, strategies, processes and devices can be illuminating in identifying and proffering useful solutions offered by nature to properly focused questions or problems that may or may not have been faced by humans [40]. Lenau and Hesselberg [41] also affirm it could be advantageous to emulate nature and move some of the planning capacity away from the central hierarchical level down to the single building blocks as displayed in nature. These methodologies employed by nature provides innovative insights for achieving a sustainable reinvention of the construction industry. However, there are series of hindrances militating against this objective. Most significant and common in literature are lack of training and education, lack of knowledge on sustainable technologies, and lack of information, education, research, knowledge, awareness and expertise [33-38]. Employing the biomimetic path reinventing the industry, the study by Gamade and Hyde [20] identified five barriers namely: language barriers (lack of understanding of approaches); integration barriers (lack of biomimicry integration knowledge); environmental policies and principles barriers (non-application of biomimicry principles); conceptualization barriers (inability to interpret biomimicry principles); and ecosystem complexities barriers (lack of understanding of nature processes and strategies). Based on the inherent relationships among the variables under each barrier, it can be interpreted that biomimetic education is of utmost importance. Therefore, to address these complexities, systematic approaches are required. Biomimicry approaches help redefine the levels of biomimicry and its potential as a tool for sustainability. They offer unique focal points and step-by-step paths under the larger umbrella of biomimicry [43] to provide methodologies through which biomimicry can be incorporated into various disciplines in order to arrive at a sustainable solution. Strict adherence to the constituting steps of these approaches is however imperative in ensuring sustainable outputs and technological solutions. The two major approaches that exist in biomimicry, though described with different terminologies are: The problem-based approach is also known as problem-driven biologically inspired approach [44], top down approach [45,46], problem-to-solution approach [47] and challenge to biology approach [48]. Eight definite steps constitute this approach in the following order: define; identify; integrate; discover; abstract; brainstorm; emulate; and measure [48]. This approach entails defining a challenge/problem by understanding and conceptualising the processes and structures exhibited by natural organisms or ecosystems in resolving similar problems [20]. In this approach, nature is looked at /turned to for solutions by first identifying the problems and then pairing such problems with organisms in nature that have resolved similar problems. Novel and iconic technological innovations and solutions to human challenges are birthed through this approach. The solution-based approach is also known as solution-driven biologically inspired approach [44], bottom top approach [45,46], solution-to-problem approach [47] and biology to design [48]. The constituting eight steps in this approach do not follow the same definite progression as evident in the problem-based approach. Here, the steps are discover, abstract, identify, define, brainstorm, integrate, emulate, and measure. This approach involves identifying a particular attribute, behaviour or function in an organism or ecosystem then translating it into human designs, solutions or innovations [19]. This describes a situation whereby biological knowledge influences the human design, solution or innovation. The collaborative design process is dependent on professionals having knowledge of relevant biological or ecological research rather than on determined human design problems [46].
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4. Conclusion and recommendations The significant impact of the construction industry on the environment and society (energy consumption, waste generation, and pollution amongst others) makes it a major sector involved in achieving sustainability [3]. Sustainability is therefore important, as the industry affects biodiversity and threatens global ecological integrity. Globally, the natural world (biota) have shown significant attributes and prowess for providing inspiration for sustainable innovations and technological solutions to human challenges. Nature-inspired path to reinventing the construction industry for energy management and sustainability can be classified into three main clusters, namely technology, policy and education. Biomimicry has shown considerable potential in the development of novel and high performance materials and technologies with low or zero environmental impact [24]. Improved technology efficiency, improved novel technology development, and creation and expansion of market for innovative technologies are few of the numerous benefits biomimicry offers [49]. It is certainly beneficial to embrace nature’s processes of optimisation and adapt them to fit present-day human challenges in materials and materials systems innovation [39]. Understanding and relating with nature as a model, measure and mentor is also crucial to the protection of the global ecosystem, thereby ensuring their continued existence and exhibition of sustainable and beneficial characteristics such as air purification and carbondioxide (CO2) sequestration amongst others. The two biomimicry approaches offer stakeholders a definite strategy and methodology for reinventing and transiting the construction industry to a sustainable state. By adopting the duo, stakeholders will be aware, educated and well-equipped with the requisite knowledge of holistic application of biomimicry for sustainable solutions and outcomes. A coherent collaboration and robust relationship between professionals within and outside the construction industry is recommended, as this is believed will ensure easy transfer and exchange of knowledge for sustainable breakthroughs to human challenges, especially that of energy management and sustainability. References [1] Tam, C., Tam, V.W. & Tsui, W. Green construction assessment for environmental management in the construction industry of Hong Kong. International Journal of Project Management 2004, 22(7):563-571. [2] Giang, D.T. & Pheng, L.S. Role of construction in economic development: Review of key concepts in the past 40 years. Habitat International 2011, 35(1):118-125. [3] Shi, L., Ye, K., Lu, W. & Hu, X. Improving the competence of construction management consultants to underpin sustainable construction in China. Habitat International 2014, pp. 41236-242. [4] Pearce, A., & Ahn, Y.H. Sustainable buildings and infrastructure: paths to the future. Routledge; 2012. [5] Wang, N. The role of the construction industry in China's sustainable urban development. Habitat International 2014, pp. 44442-450. [6] Shen, L.Y., Bao, Q. & Ip, S.L. Implementing innovative functions in construction project management towards the mission of sustainable development. In Proceedings of the Millennium Conference on Construction Project Management, Hong Kong, 24 October 2000, p. 77-85. [7] Low, S.P., Gao, S. & See, Y.L. Strategies and measures for implementing eco-labelling schemes in Singapore's construction industry. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 2014, pp. 8931-40. [8] United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Industry and environment (April-September, 2003),, [accessed 05.03.16]. 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Ecos 2006, (129):27-29. [17] Marshall, A. Biomimicry. In Encyclopedia of Corporate Social Responsibility. Springer Berlin Heidelberg; 2013, pp. 174-178. [18] Al Amin, F. & Taleb, H. Biomimicry approach to achieving thermal comfort in a hot climate. Proceedings of SBE16, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 2016. [19] Zari, M.P. Biomimetic approaches to architectural design for increased sustainability. SB07 Auckland, New Zealand; 2007. [20] Gamage, A. & Hyde, R. A model based on biomimicry to enhance ecologically sustainable design. Architectural Science Review 2012, 55(3):224-235.
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9th International Conference on Applied Energy, ICAE2017, 21-24 August 2017, Cardiff, UK
Biomimetic reinvention of the construction industry: energy The 15th International Symposium on District Heating and Cooling management and sustainability Assessing the feasibility of using the heat demand-outdoor a b Olusegun Aanuoluwapo Oguntonaa*, Clinton Ohis Aigbavboab temperature function for Research a long-term district heat demand forecast Sustainable Centre, University of of Sustainable Human Human Settlement Settlement and and Construction Construction Research Centre, Faculty Faculty of of Engineering Engineering and and the the Built Built Environment, Environment, University a,b a,b
Johannesburg, Johannesburg, Johanesburg, Johanesburg, South South Africa Africa
I. Andrića,b,c*, A. Pinaa, P. Ferrãoa, J. Fournierb., B. Lacarrièrec, O. Le Correc a Abstract IN+ Center for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research - Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal Abstract b
Veolia Recherche & Innovation, 291 Avenue Dreyfous Daniel, 78520 Limay, France
c Département Systèmes et Environnement - IMTand Atlantique, 4 rue Alfred Kastler, 44300 France High energy use, use, consumption and depletion natural environmental degradation and pollution are High energy consumption andÉnergétiques depletion of of natural resources, resources, and environmental degradation and Nantes, pollution are few few of of the the numerous impacts impacts of of the the construction construction industry. industry. These These are are traceable traceable to to the the unsustainable unsustainable construction construction practices practices employed employed by by most most numerous of the the construction of construction industry industry globally. globally. Hence, Hence, the the need need for for effective effective energy energy management management and and sustainability. sustainability. With With biomimicry, biomimicry, the the study to offer offer sustainable sustainable solutions solutions to to human human challenges, challenges, an an era era of of novel novel and and eco-friendly eco-friendly source source study and and emulation emulation of of nature’s nature’s entirety entirety to ofAbstract inspiration is is heralded. heralded. This This study study sets sets out out to to examine examine the the biomimetic biomimetic energy energy management management and and sustainability sustainability for for the the reinvention reinvention of inspiration of the the construction construction industry. industry. Literature Literature review review was was conducted conducted on on nature-inspired nature-inspired ways ways and and strategies strategies of of energy energy management management and and of District heating networks addressed in the literature as one of the as most effective solutions for decreasing the sustainability. Findings fromarethe thecommonly study revealed revealed technology, policy, and and education major areas where where biomimicry seeks to to sustainability. Findings from study technology, policy, education as major areas biomimicry seeks greenhouseaddress gas emissions from the building sector. These systems require high investments which are returned through the heat sustainably energy challenges. The adoption and application of biomimetic strategies is important, as it offers much sustainably address energy challenges. The adoption and application of biomimetic strategies is important, as it offers much sales. Dueenergy to the changed climate conditions and building renovation policies, heat demand in the future could decrease, potential potential in in energy management management and and sustainability. sustainability. prolonging the investment return period. © 2017 2017 The The Authors. Authors. Published Published by by Elsevier Elsevier Ltd. Ltd. © ©The 2017 Thescope Authors. Published Ltd. main this paper isby to Elsevier assess the feasibility of using demand –Conference outdoor temperature function Peer-review underofresponsibility responsibility of the scientific committee of the thethe 9thheat International on Applied Applied Energy.for heat demand Peer-review under of the scientific committee of 9th International Conference on on Energy. Peer-review under responsibility of thelocated scientific committee of the 9th International Applied Energy. forecast. The district of Alvalade, in Lisbon (Portugal), was used as aConference case study. The district is consisted of 665 buildingsNature-inspired; that vary in both construction period and industry typology. Three weather scenarios (low, medium, high) and three district Keywords: bimimicry; energy; construction Keywords: Nature-inspired; bimimicry; energy; construction industry renovation scenarios were developed (shallow, intermediate, deep). To estimate the error, obtained heat demand values were compared with results from a dynamic heat demand model, previously developed and validated by the authors. The results showed that when only weather change is considered, the margin of error could be acceptable for some applications 1. Introduction 1.(the Introduction error in annual demand was lower than 20% for all weather scenarios considered). However, after introducing renovation scenarios, the error value increased up to 59.5% (depending on the weather and renovation scenarios combination considered). The construction construction industry industry plays plays aa cogent cogent part part in in improving improving the the population’s quality quality of of life life and and in in meeting meeting the the The The value of slope coefficient increased on average within the range of population’s 3.8% up to 8% per decade, that corresponds to the requirements and needs of the society in question [1]. The use of construction investments as a tool by the government requirements and needsofofheating the society Thethe useheating of construction investments as combination a tool by theofgovernment decrease in the number hoursinofquestion 22-139h[1]. during season (depending on the weather and to stabilize economy also position in national development strategy of many torenovation stabilize the the economy also shows shows the industry’s key position in the theincreased national for development strategy of(depending many countries countries scenarios considered). On the the industry’s other hand,key function intercept 7.8-12.7% per decade on the [2]. As by Shivalues et al. al. [3], [3], urbanization closely linked to the industry to its coupled scenarios). suggested could beis to modify parameters for the owing scenarios and [2]. As affirmed affirmed byThe Shi et urbanization isused closely linkedthe to function the construction construction industry owing to considered, its associated associated improve the accuracy of heat demand estimations.
© 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Peer-review under responsibility of the Scientific Committee of The 15th International Symposium on District Heating and * Corresponding Corresponding author. author. Tel.: Tel.: +27-74-207-6075. +27-74-207-6075. * Cooling. E-mail address: address: [email protected]. [email protected]. E-mail
Keywords: Heat demand; Forecast; Climate change 1876-6102 © © 2017 2017 The The Authors. Authors. Published Published by by Elsevier Elsevier Ltd. Ltd. 1876-6102 Peer-review Peer-review under under responsibility responsibility of of the the scientific scientific committee committee of of the the 9th 9th International International Conference Conference on on Applied Applied Energy. Energy. 1876-6102 © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Peer-review under responsibility of the Scientific Committee of The 15th International Symposium on District Heating and Cooling.
1876-6102 © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the 9th International Conference on Applied Energy. 10.1016/j.egypro.2017.12.216
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developments through provision of infrastructures. These include the provision of critical infrastructure such as bridges, roads, rail, water and wastewater treatment plants, plants for the production and transmission of energy, and facility assets such as office and residential buildings [4]. These products of the construction industry – buildings and infrastructure – have a long-term negative impact on the environment and the inhabitants as they continuously emit large amounts of pollution [5]. Use of fossil fuel, generic resources and mineral consumption, waste production requiring land disposal, and pollution of the living environment are identified as forming part of the environmental impacts of construction [5,6]. The replacement of forests and vegetation by impervious concrete surfaces of roads and buildings [7] attests to the belief that the industry negatively impacts the environment. Table 1 summarizes the main environmental and social impacts of the construction industry according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Table 1. Environmental and social impacts of the construction industry [8]. Impacts 1
Energy use and associated emissions of GHGs covered by the UNFCCC/Kyoto Protocol. These include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and perfluorocarbons (PFCs).
2
Other indoor and outdoor emissions.
3
Noise pollution.
4
Land use change, including clearing of existing flora.
5
Raw material extraction and consumption; related resource depletion.
6
Aesthetic degradation.
7
Water use and waste water generation.
8
Increased transport needs (depending on citing).
9
Various effects of transport of building materials both locally and globally.
10
Waste generation.
11
Opportunities for corruption.
12
Disruption of communities, including through inappropriate design and materials.
13
Health risks on worksites and for building occupants.
Globally, one of the major and widely reported characteristics of the construction industry is its consumption of large amounts of energy. This is energy consumed during the manufacturing of building materials (‘embedded’ or ‘embodied’ energy), transporting these materials from production plants to building sites (‘grey’ energy), constructing the building/structure (‘induced’ energy), operating the building/structure (‘operational’ energy) and demolishing the building/structure and recycling of its parts, where this occurs [4]. For instance, buildings in use account for about 50 percent of total energy used in the United Kingdom (UK) and the construction phase accounts for another 5-10 percent [9]. In China, the construction industry consumes around 28 percent of the total energy, a figure expected to rise to 35 percent [5]. Energy use in buildings for cooling, refrigeration, fire suppression, and in the case of halocarbons, insulation materials also are major emitters of other non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions such as halocarbons, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) [4]. In order to mitigate this, it is imperative to reinvent the construction industry, drawing inspiration from the natural world. Nature has been found to exhibit functional, efficient, effective, eco-friendly as well as aesthetically pleasing attributes through its resulting designs and solutions. Natural organisms manufacture without heat, beat, and treat; ecosystems that runs on sunlight and feedback; and creating opportunities rather than waste. These sustainable attributes are methodologies and approaches all perfected through nature’s research and development (R&D) of its 3.8 billion years of evolution [10]. This has led architects, engineers, designers and innovators to start consulting nature’s superb forms, processes and policies in their quest for solutions to the numerous challenges of sustainability facing the world. Hence, biomimicry, the new field of discipline which studies nature’s models and then emulates their forms, processes, systems, and strategies to solve human problems sustainably [11]. This paper presents biomimetic ways of
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reinventing the construction industry with respect to energy management and sustainability. A review of related studies on biomimetic (nature-inspired) strategies and methodologies on sustainability is presented. The final section provides an overview of the issues discussed in the paper, draws conclusions from the study and recommendations. 2. Reinventing the construction industry The construction industry is far from been sustainable as the industry is yet to fully embrace sustainable practices and make them the norm. The industry is faced with the challenge of environmental management and holistic sustainability. Despite the global movement and shift towards sustainability, especially the adoption of sustainable construction practices, there is little or no deliberate intent by the construction stakeholders towards realigning the industry in tandem with this goal. A report by the United Nations Environment Programme – Sustainable Buildings & Climate Initiative (UNEP-SBCI) suggested prioritizing and a national focus on the building sector as the top two highlevel recommendations for reducing the environmental impact of the construction industry [12]. The transformation of the industry to a sustainable sector has now become a necessity for local economic growth and universal competitiveness. This transformation is also imperative for significant reduction in the production of waste, toxic air emissions, and consumption of natural resources and energy which is synonymous with the industry and globally. The first giant step to redirecting the industry from the conventional way to the sustainable paradigm is to develop indicators through effective government and stakeholders’ participation. Though an enormous task, Kibert [13] suggested a definite change in the mind-set of construction stakeholders with technology, policy, and education as major areas where the changes must take place amongst others. 3. Biomimetic strategies for sustainable reinvention of the construction industry Rather than utilize nature for human advantage and use, biomimicry focuses on the identification and integration of ideas that are predominantly sustainable and amenable to the earth’s capacity [14]. Benyus describes biomimicry as the quest of men and women, exploring nature's masterpieces (photosynthesis, self-assembly, natural selection, selfsustaining ecosystems, eyes and ears and skin and shells, talking neurons, and natural medicines) and then copying these designs and manufacturing processes to solve their own problems [15]. The idea is that nature has developed highly efficient systems and processes, which have the potential to propel solutions to the waste, management and other challenges confronting humanity today [16]. Biomimicry is perceived by many to be some branch of biological science going by the sound of the term: the scientific knowledge within biomimicry only serves as a means through which nature is learnt about [17]. It however, heralds a transition from an era of extracting from nature to learning from its forms, processes and strategies [10]. Since it came into limelight and became popularized, biomimicry has now become the provider of numerous timely and outstanding innovations in areas such as energy engineering and waste re-use, where multiple-scale efficiency improvements are greatly required. Biomimicry as an approach has the potential to solve human challenges since other organisms in nature face, or have faced, many of such challenges and sustainably managed and overcame them [18], notably of which is energy. Biomimetic strategies for the reinvention of the construction industry vis a vis energy management and sustainability is hereby presented in the areas of technology, policy, and education. 3.1. Biomimetic reinvention through technology Biomimicry is gaining overwhelming significance as a wide-spread and global movement in design for environmentally conscious sustainable technologies characterised by its potential to stimulate creative innovations and solutions [19,20]. Biomimicry is now on the forefront of scientific and technological research because it brings about novel insights for the development of efficient and effective technological innovations with sustainable attributes [21]. While it can be used specifically as a method of increasing the sustainability of what has been created [19], it can as well be used in birthing novel inventions and innovations as well [22]. It is acknowledged that the construction industry can mitigate its impact on the environment by adopting technologies and materials that adhere to the principles of sustainability [23,24]. An assessment of several biomimetic materials, technologies and innovations already commercialised, patented or at development stage also reveals their
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potential in offering sustainable specification options to the construction industry. Biomimetic (biological, bioinspired or nature-inspired) materials and technologies are highly organised in a hierarchical manner from the minute to the nanoscale, microscale and macroscale, which ultimately make up a pyramid of diverse function elements [25,26]. This discovery endorsed biomimicry as a problem-solving methodology that continuously results in sustainable, efficient and effective solutions to challenges in the construction industry [27]. As further affirmed by Bhushan [26], nature-inspired materials are known to be multifunctional and exhibiting the following attributes, amongst others: superhydrophobicity, high adhesion, self-cleaning, self-healing, thermal insulation, self-assembly, antireflection, sensory aid mechanisms, high mechanical strength, structural coloration, aerodynamic lift, and energy conversion and conservation. Table 2 below present examples of few biomimetic technological breakthroughs in the areas of energy management and sustainability. Table 2. Biomimetic technologies for energy management and sustainability [28]. Product/Technology/Innovation
Nature inspiration
Function
1
Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells and Panels
Cooke’s koki’o (photosynthesis)
Low-cost and efficiently produced electricity by artificial photosynthesis
2
Eastgate Building, Harare, Zimbabwe
Termites and termite’s mounds
Night cooling, thermal storage and convective air currents regulating temperature thereby reducing energy cost (heating and cooling)
3
HotZoneTM radiant heater, using IrlensTM
Lobster
Spot heater that focuses radiant heat onto users rather than heating an entire space
4
bioWAVETM
Bull kelp
Harnessing wave energy for power generation
5
Biolytix® System
Soil ecosystem
Water treatment ad water filtering system
6
COMOLEVI Forest Canopy
Shade trees
Leaf color and shape enhancing cooling effects
7
Eco-Machine
Forests
Waste water treatment system that purifies water without chemicals
8
Sage Glass, Quantum Glass (Europe)
Bobtail squid and hummingbird
Electrochromic smart windows that provide energy savings by reducing cooling/heating energy costs
9
Aquaporin Membrane TechnologyTM
10
Eco-Cement
Sea snail
Neutral and strength-enhancing carbon sequestering cement
11
Chaac-ha
Spiders and bromeliads
Water system collector for rainwater and dew
3.2. Biomimetic reinvention through policy Biomimicry delivers on triadic levels (form, process, and ecosystem) of increasing requirements in terms of sustainability [20] to achieve solutions, designs and innovations that awe in terms sustainable performance [29]. In biomimicry, nature is core and the underlying policy as postulated by Benyus [10,15] advocates human relationship to nature based on a ‘model, measure, and mentor’ [30,31]. In order to fully appreciate, understand and appropriate biomimicry to solve human problems in a sustainable manner, human relationship has to be orientated towards these three dimensions. It is a policy to be upheld and adopted by stakeholders if biomimicry’s overarching goal of sustainability is to be achieved. Since natural organisms offers novel and enormous potentials for energy management and sustainability through their outstanding attributes, biomimicry therefore helps to tap into this unending depth of insight and inspiration through the model, measure, and mentor policy of viewing nature. Nature as a model entails the study of nature’s forms, processes, and systems and thereafter draws inspiration from these features to tackle human challenges sustainably [27].
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Nature as a measure is concerned with judging and evaluating the sustainability and rightness of human innovations, designs, and solutions with respect to natural standards as displayed through their 3.8 billion years of evolution [27,32]. Nature as a mentor, however, entails a conscious human intent to learn from nature and to develop a mutual relationship and consciousness that nature is part of human existence. It is a new way of viewing and valuing nature, introducing an era based not on what we can extract from the natural world, but what we can learn from it [10,27]. 3.3. Biomimetic reinvention through education Nature presents an indisputable array of high level creativity and innovation [22]. It is certainly beneficial to embrace nature’s processes of optimisation and adapt them to fit present-day human challenges in technologies and materials systems innovation [39]. Studying nature’s materials, strategies, processes and devices can be illuminating in identifying and proffering useful solutions offered by nature to properly focused questions or problems that may or may not have been faced by humans [40]. Lenau and Hesselberg [41] also affirm it could be advantageous to emulate nature and move some of the planning capacity away from the central hierarchical level down to the single building blocks as displayed in nature. These methodologies employed by nature provides innovative insights for achieving a sustainable reinvention of the construction industry. However, there are series of hindrances militating against this objective. Most significant and common in literature are lack of training and education, lack of knowledge on sustainable technologies, and lack of information, education, research, knowledge, awareness and expertise [33-38]. Employing the biomimetic path reinventing the industry, the study by Gamade and Hyde [20] identified five barriers namely: language barriers (lack of understanding of approaches); integration barriers (lack of biomimicry integration knowledge); environmental policies and principles barriers (non-application of biomimicry principles); conceptualization barriers (inability to interpret biomimicry principles); and ecosystem complexities barriers (lack of understanding of nature processes and strategies). Based on the inherent relationships among the variables under each barrier, it can be interpreted that biomimetic education is of utmost importance. Therefore, to address these complexities, systematic approaches are required. Biomimicry approaches help redefine the levels of biomimicry and its potential as a tool for sustainability. They offer unique focal points and step-by-step paths under the larger umbrella of biomimicry [43] to provide methodologies through which biomimicry can be incorporated into various disciplines in order to arrive at a sustainable solution. Strict adherence to the constituting steps of these approaches is however imperative in ensuring sustainable outputs and technological solutions. The two major approaches that exist in biomimicry, though described with different terminologies are: The problem-based approach is also known as problem-driven biologically inspired approach [44], top down approach [45,46], problem-to-solution approach [47] and challenge to biology approach [48]. Eight definite steps constitute this approach in the following order: define; identify; integrate; discover; abstract; brainstorm; emulate; and measure [48]. This approach entails defining a challenge/problem by understanding and conceptualising the processes and structures exhibited by natural organisms or ecosystems in resolving similar problems [20]. In this approach, nature is looked at /turned to for solutions by first identifying the problems and then pairing such problems with organisms in nature that have resolved similar problems. Novel and iconic technological innovations and solutions to human challenges are birthed through this approach. The solution-based approach is also known as solution-driven biologically inspired approach [44], bottom top approach [45,46], solution-to-problem approach [47] and biology to design [48]. The constituting eight steps in this approach do not follow the same definite progression as evident in the problem-based approach. Here, the steps are discover, abstract, identify, define, brainstorm, integrate, emulate, and measure. This approach involves identifying a particular attribute, behaviour or function in an organism or ecosystem then translating it into human designs, solutions or innovations [19]. This describes a situation whereby biological knowledge influences the human design, solution or innovation. The collaborative design process is dependent on professionals having knowledge of relevant biological or ecological research rather than on determined human design problems [46].
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4. Conclusion and recommendations The significant impact of the construction industry on the environment and society (energy consumption, waste generation, and pollution amongst others) makes it a major sector involved in achieving sustainability [3]. Sustainability is therefore important, as the industry affects biodiversity and threatens global ecological integrity. Globally, the natural world (biota) have shown significant attributes and prowess for providing inspiration for sustainable innovations and technological solutions to human challenges. Nature-inspired path to reinventing the construction industry for energy management and sustainability can be classified into three main clusters, namely technology, policy and education. Biomimicry has shown considerable potential in the development of novel and high performance materials and technologies with low or zero environmental impact [24]. Improved technology efficiency, improved novel technology development, and creation and expansion of market for innovative technologies are few of the numerous benefits biomimicry offers [49]. It is certainly beneficial to embrace nature’s processes of optimisation and adapt them to fit present-day human challenges in materials and materials systems innovation [39]. Understanding and relating with nature as a model, measure and mentor is also crucial to the protection of the global ecosystem, thereby ensuring their continued existence and exhibition of sustainable and beneficial characteristics such as air purification and carbondioxide (CO2) sequestration amongst others. The two biomimicry approaches offer stakeholders a definite strategy and methodology for reinventing and transiting the construction industry to a sustainable state. By adopting the duo, stakeholders will be aware, educated and well-equipped with the requisite knowledge of holistic application of biomimicry for sustainable solutions and outcomes. A coherent collaboration and robust relationship between professionals within and outside the construction industry is recommended, as this is believed will ensure easy transfer and exchange of knowledge for sustainable breakthroughs to human challenges, especially that of energy management and sustainability. References [1] Tam, C., Tam, V.W. & Tsui, W. Green construction assessment for environmental management in the construction industry of Hong Kong. International Journal of Project Management 2004, 22(7):563-571. [2] Giang, D.T. & Pheng, L.S. Role of construction in economic development: Review of key concepts in the past 40 years. Habitat International 2011, 35(1):118-125. [3] Shi, L., Ye, K., Lu, W. & Hu, X. Improving the competence of construction management consultants to underpin sustainable construction in China. Habitat International 2014, pp. 41236-242. [4] Pearce, A., & Ahn, Y.H. Sustainable buildings and infrastructure: paths to the future. Routledge; 2012. [5] Wang, N. The role of the construction industry in China's sustainable urban development. Habitat International 2014, pp. 44442-450. [6] Shen, L.Y., Bao, Q. & Ip, S.L. Implementing innovative functions in construction project management towards the mission of sustainable development. In Proceedings of the Millennium Conference on Construction Project Management, Hong Kong, 24 October 2000, p. 77-85. [7] Low, S.P., Gao, S. & See, Y.L. Strategies and measures for implementing eco-labelling schemes in Singapore's construction industry. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 2014, pp. 8931-40. [8] United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Industry and environment (April-September, 2003),
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[21] Zhang, M., Gu, Z., Bosch, M., Perry, Z. & Zhou, H. Biomimicry in metal–organic materials. Coordination Chemistry Reviews 2015, pp. 327356. [22] Okuyucu, C. Biomimicry based on material science: The inspiring art from nature (review article). Matter 2015, 2(1):49-53. [23] Wang, W., Zmeureanu, R. & Rivard, H. Applying multi-objective genetic algorithms in green building design optimization. Building and Environment 2005, 40(11):1512-1525. [24] Oguntona, O.A. & Aigbavboa, C.O. Promoting biomimetic materials for a sustainable construction industry. Bioinspired, Biomimetic and Nanobiomaterials 2016, 1-1. [25] Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis,J, et al. Molecular biology of the cell. New York: Garland Science; 2008. [26] Bhushan, B. Biomimetics: Lessons from nature -- an overview. Philosophical Transactions. Series A. Mathematical, Physical, and Engineering Sciences 2009, 367(1893):1445-1486. [27] El Din, N.N., Abdou, A. & El Gawad, I.A. Biomimetic potentials for building envelope adaptation in Egypt. Procedia Environmental Sciences 2016, pp. 34375-386. [28] Ask Nature. (2016). Idea. The Biomimicry Institute,