Given the current need to reduce the Urban Heat Island (UHI) worldwide, one of the strategies that can contribute to this mitigation is green façades. In this context, the aim of this research is to evaluate a Living Wall System (LWS) as a strategy to reduce the urban heat island in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, using outdoor test cells. This research was focused on the monitoring of two different façades, an LWS and a reference façade, during the warmer months. For the comparison, the parameters measured were air temperature, relative humidity, surface temperature and environmental variables. In addition, thermal images were taken. Results reveal that during the days selected, the average outdoor air temperature difference between the LWS compared to the reference façade was 5.3 °C, whereas during the day, the average was 3.3 °C. Concerning surface temperature, in the case of the LWS, the temperature was higher and had greater fluctuations than the reference façade. This behavior was confirmed by the results obtained with thermal images. In conclusion, using an LWS in a tropical climate helps the urban microclimate, which contributes to urban heat island effect mitigation during the warmer months.

El confort térmico y la calidad del aire en los centros docentes son dos parámetros que deben ser estudiados en profundidad. Tienen consecuencias en la salud de las personas cuyo cuerpo está en desarrollo y en los resultados de aprendizaje que se obtienen en los espacios educativos. En este trabajo se toman datos de concentración de CO2 y temperatura en un total de ocho aulas que pertenecen a tres centros docentes públicos durante un año con el objetivo de analizar la situación, determinar las causas que influyen en los aspectos mencionados y ofrecer medidas para corregir las desviaciones registradas y mejorar la calidad del ambiente interior en las aulas. Los datos obtenidos muestran que durante un tercio del tiempo lectivo las concentraciones de CO2 superan los valores límite establecidos y que durante más de dos tercios del tiempo lectivo los valores de temperatura se encuentran fuera de la zona de confort.

With its first edition held in 2002 organized by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Solar Decathlon is a university competition focused on training the next generation of architects and engineers with the aim of spreading the concept of efficient houses powered by the sun, fostering a more sustainable and efficient world. To date, 18 competitions have been held around the world with approximately 291 teams, involving thousands of students, professors, organizers, visitors, etc. With almost two decades of history, there is no information on the performance of competitions in the eyes of those who have gone through this experience. This study, developed in the Annex 74 “Competition and Living Lab Platform” of the International Energy Agency’s Energy in Building and Communities Technology Collaboration Program, seeks to provide insight into the experience of former decathletes, faculties, organizers, and professionals who have attended some of the competitions held so far. To reach this objective, a worldwide survey was conducted in 2020 and an analysis of the responses was carried out. With this information, it is possible to assess the performance of Solar Decathlon competitions and associated events in order to improve them.

Purpose: This study focuses on urban lighting design, exploring its effect on citizens´ emotions. A methodology based on Kansei engineering is developed in response to the question: How does lighting of facades within the urban space influence people’s emotions? Design/methodology/approach: Outdoor lighting design is a multidisciplinary topic that involves, among other aspects, design, energy savings, protection of nocturnal biodiversity and profitability, all of which are important functional and regulatory requirements. However, they do not necessarily consider user needs, which make perception and emotional response difficult parameters in the lighting design process. The studies carried out on lighting and its impact on emotions have mainly been done indoors. The objective of this work is to propose a methodology to evaluate emotional response to the illuminated nocturnal urban space with the purpose of providing knowledge to create emotionally efficient luminous spaces that improve people’s perception and well-being. The instrument used was the survey (online questionnaires), based on Kansei engineering, created to incorporate the emotional variable in product design. The research was carried out with participants from Peru, Spain and Germany. The results collected the reaction of the participants to different types of night-time luminous spaces presented, which contributes to a better understanding of user needs and activities regarding the space. This knowledge is intended to help designers meet their expectations. Findings: The Kansei engineering method has made establishing relationships between the sensations experienced and the physical characteristics of the luminous space possible. From the point of view of outdoor lighting design planning, Kansei methodology can contribute to a better understanding of user needs within the urban space, serving as a guide to specialists when making lighting decisions and thus meeting their expectations. Therefore, it is considered a very useful and recommended instrument not only from the beginning of lighting projects but also applicable to lighting master plans. The method used contributes to a multidisciplinary design approach, performing a simultaneous analysis of all the requirements and design parameters (architectural, psychological, biological, environmental and social) that intervene from the first design phases of the project, which will allow qualitative lighting solutions aimed at user satisfaction with the urban night space. From a comprehensive point of view, the instrument generated enables identifying not only quantitative values of the urban night space (luminous spaces and technical descriptors) but also qualitative values (aesthetic descriptors), which are both decisive instruments when measuring user satisfaction. Research limitations/implications: Participants were only from Germany, Peru and Spain. Originality/value: Traditionally, research aiming at user responses to lighting environment comes from the field of psychology or engineering, not considering parameters of lighting design that could effectively cater to specific user needs.

Visual attention towards building façades in the most energy vulnerable neighbourhoods in Madrid and the relaxing effect of visual coherence