This article raises awareness of Building Information Management (BIM) and its significance for Construction 4.0. BIM is often mistakenly understood only as a 3D model of a building object, but its true potential lies in the information associated with the model (e.g., mechanical and physical properties, costs, etc.). Models can subsequently be used in the building energy management (BEM) at all stages of the building object’s life cycle. This article focuses on the possibility of creating a model using available libraries in the Czech Republic provided by manufacturers and suppliers of building materials and the subsequent use of the model for energy modelling. The results obtained from computational modelling are then compared with real values measured on a timber construction located in Ostrava (Czech Republic). These results show that properly configured BIM modelling allows faster data processing while maintaining the quality of outputs and results. Additionally, there is potential to eliminate common pitfalls in the design and subsequent processing of thermal assessments of building objects.

The aim of the research carried out under the grant FAST-J-12-1773 is the optimization of the proposed mass production of newly developed thermal insulation composite material in terms of its impact on the environment without causing a disproportionate increase in costs. This paper presents current results of research - life cycle assessment (LCA) of the production of thermal insulation block made of composite plastic. LCA methodology that was used for this assessment is contained in international standards ISO 14040 and ISO 14044.

The present work analyzes the effect of releasing physically bound water from hydrogel, cork, perlite, and ceramsite on materials exposed to microwave radiation and subsequently investigates possible changes in the physical properties of these materials (water absorption and thermal conductivity coefficient). The release of physically bound water from individual materials has potential practical applications in materials engineering, for example, in the internal curing of concrete, where individual aggregates could, under the influence of microwave radiation, release water into the structure of the concrete and thus further cure it. Experimental analysis was carried out with samples of the above-mentioned materials, which were first weighed and then immersed in water for 24 h. Then, they were weighed again and exposed to microwave radiation. After exposure, the samples were weighed again, left immersed in water for 24 h, and weighed again. The focus of the study was on the ability of the aggregates to release water due to microwave radiation and on the changes in the properties (water absorption, thermal conductivity coefficient) of these materials when exposed to microwave radiation. The samples were further monitored by digital microscopy for possible changes in the surface layer of the materials. The hydrogels show the highest water absorption (1000%) and the fastest water release (45 min to complete desiccation). After the release of water due to microwave radiation, their ability to absorb water is maintained. Of interest, however, is that in the case of almost complete removal of water from the soaked hydrogel, the original powdered state of the hydrogel is not obtained, but the outcome has rather a solid structure. In the case of cork, the water absorption depends on the fraction of the material.

In this paper we would like to show the readers two case studies of energy-, environmentally- and cost-efficient renovations of contemporary buildings in Czech Republic that were assessed according to the IEA ECBS Annex 56 methodology - elementary school Kamínky 5 (built 1987) and block-of-flats Koniklecová 4 (built 1983). Both buildings are located in Brno – Nový Lískovec. They were recently renovated into low-energy standard, with emphasis on low renovation costs and high operating cost savings. In both cases the renovation reduced energy consumption by approximately 60%. It also improved wellbeing of the users and visual perception of the buildings

This paper shows partial results of IEA ECBCS Annex 56 which deals with energy-, economically-and environmentally-efficient renovations of buildings. It describes one of the assessed case studies - renovation of elementary school Kamínky 5 in Brno-Nový Lískovec, Czech Republic into low-energy standard. The school was built in 1959 and renovated in 2009 and 2010. The renovation significantly reduced energy consumption of the school. The energy consumption (heat, electricity) as well as environmental performance (represented by CO₂ emissions, non-renewable and cumulative energy demand) of the school, both before and after the renovation, is described in detail in the paper. Data about the energy consumption are based on audits and financial reports that has been provided by the Borough Office Brno – Nový Lískovec. Data for the environmental assessment are taken from renovation‘s designs (provided by design office Menhir project s. r. o.) and in-situ inspection.