Building components with incorporated phase change materials (PCMs) meant to increase heat storage capacity and enable stabilization of interior buildings surface temperatures, whereby influencing the thermal comfort sensation and the stabilization of the interior ambient temperatures. The potential of advanced simulation tools to evaluate and optimize the usage of PCM in the control of indoor temperature, allowing for an improvement in the comfort conditions and/or in the cooling energy demand, was explored. This paper presents a numerical and sensitivity analysis of the enthalpy and melting temperature effect on the inside building comfort sensation potential of the plastering PCM.

This research explores the synergy between modernity and tradition in the creation of sustainable construction solutions for outdoor public spaces, with the aim of optimising urban quality. The comprehensive methodology includes pre-assessment, categorisation of construction solutions and strategic optimisation. Key urban elements, from pavements to waste management, are examined, highlighting their unique strengths and challenges. The study highlights the importance of a balanced approach, integrating smart technologies with traditional or vernacular solutions. The results show the transformation of outdoor public spaces into vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable environments. Significant achievements include innovative urban design, ecologically balanced green spaces, and a comprehensive framework for holistic urban development. Beyond the physical structures, the research emphasises community nurturing, cultural preservation, and the creation of a sustainable legacy for future generations.

Sustainability certification systems are parameters used to measure the extent to which the building meets the necessary sustainable requirements. Currently, there are several types of sustainability certificates, in addition to regulatory standards. Therefore, this work sought to analyze the most influential sustainability certificate systems in the market, using the qualitative analysis of content created by Bardin and based on ISO 21929-1, with fourteen aspects, as a parameter for comparison, the focus of the study was adapted to this method to have a better understanding of the behavior of these systems. Some conditions were imposed to narrow down the number of certification systems, four systems were selected to be analyzed. After the qualitative analysis, it was possible to identify that DGNB (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen) is the only one that addressed all the fourteen aspects brought by ISO 21929-1, HQE (Haute Qualité Environnementale) and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) addressed fewer aspects, HQE highly addresses them. However, LEED has a more detailed and clear approach to the aspect related to the Internal conditions and air quality. Lastly, BREEAM addresses thirteen of the fourteen aspects of ISO 21929-1, and most of its content addressed is from the environmental area.

In passive solar buildings, energy can be stored using either sensible heat materials or latent heat materials. Phase change materials (PCM) can contribute to temperature control in passive solar buildings when melting occurs near to comfort temperature required for building’s interior spaces. The use of finite element method (FEM) as a numerical methodology for solving the thermal problem associated with heat transfer in current building materials and PCMs make sense, as it is a well-known technique, generalized and dominated, however, still little applied to the domain of building physics. In this work, a solar model was developed and applied in order to simulate numerically the effect of solar radiation incidence on each face of the test cells (with different solar exposures) without neglecting the main objective of the recommended numerical simulation: the study of the action of PCM. During the experimental campaign, two test cells with distinct inner layers were used to evaluate the effect of solar radiation: (i) REFM test cell (without PCM) with a reference mortar; (ii) PCMM test cell (with PCM) with a PCM mortar. The temperatures monitored inside the REFM and PCMM test cells were compared with the values resulting from the numerical simulation, using FEM with 3D discretization and the explicit modeling of the solar radiation, and the obtained results revealed a significant coherence of values.

This work presents an extensive numerical simulation to analyze the influence of the coating layers on the performance of construction systems, in order to make the constructions projects feasible, not only economically but also technically. Through numerical simulations based on a defined reference model, the present work studied the influence of different layers of floor, roof and internal and external wall systems, on the acoustic, thermal, and luminous performance of buildings in Brazil. The results showed the materials and elements with the greatest influence on: lighting performance are the internal finishes of the environment and the type of glass used in the external windows. On thermal performance, all elements of the roofing system and façades, especially an absence of external cladding and the use of thermal blankets on the roof, have greater influence. The acoustic performance of the façade function on the external windows and acoustic performance of the floor system are mainly influenced by the thickness of the structural element and the use of a ceiling and acoustic blanket; acoustic performance of internal walls is affected by typology of the structured element of the wall and thickness.