Temporary housing plays an important role in providing secure, hygienic, private, and comfortable shelter in the aftermath of disaster (such as flood, fire, earthquake, etc.). Additionally, temporary housing can also be used as a sustainable form of on-site residences for construction workers. While most of the building components used in temporary housing can be manufactured in a plant, prefabrication technology improves the production efficiency of temporary housing; furthermore, integrated renewable energy systems, for example, solar photovoltaic (PV) system, offer benefits for temporary housing operations. In order to assess the environmental impacts of prefabricated temporary housing equipped with renewable energy systems, this study first divides the life cycle of temporary housing into six stages, and then establishes a life cycle assessment (LCA) model for each stage. Furthermore, with the aim of reducing the environmental impacts, life cycle carbon reduction measures are proposed for each stage of temporary housing. The proposed methodology is demonstrated using a case study in China. Based on the proposed carbon reduction measures, the LCA of a prefabricated temporary housing case study building equipped with renewable energy systems indicates a carbon emissions intensity of 35.7 kg/m²·per year, as well as a reduction in material embodied emissions of 18%, assembly emissions of 17.5%, and operational emissions of 91.5%. This research proposes a carbon reduction-driven LCA of temporary housing and contributes to promoting sustainable development of prefabricated temporary housing equipped with renewable energy systems.

Today, “walkability” is considered a critical component of an aging-friendly neighborhood. This study examined the relationships between the neighborhood physical environment, walkability, and physical activity levels of older residents in Singapore. Five neighborhoods notable for their “aging in place” strategies were selected for a site survey. A questionnaire focusing on the evaluation of neighborhood walkability was administered to older adults in these neighborhoods. The questionnaire included three sections: neighborhood satisfaction, walkability, and the daily physical activity of older adults. The results indicated that adequate physical facilities and connectivity to the city were critical to older adults’ satisfaction with their neighborhoods. The mean walking time significantly dropped as the number of nearby facilities increased, and the number of facilities was negatively correlated with the daily activity levels of older adults. Thus, planners should attempt to calibrate the provision of neighborhood facilities to maintain the physical activity levels of older adults.

Construction industrialization is growing rapidly and has received significant attention worldwide in recent years. The industrialization of construction results in several benefits, including the promotion of sustainable construction and the development and application of prefabrication techniques. The Prefabricated Rebar Cage (PRC) is an emerging solution applied to high-rise buildings as a replacement of the In-situ Reinforcing Bar (ISRB) construction method. This paper investigates the cradle-to-site carbon emissions of PRC, and compares the results with those of conventional in-situ rebar construction methods for high-rise buildings. The cradle-to-site cycle is divided into three stages, namely, material preparation, transportation, and on-site construction. For the material preparation stage, it is found that CO₂ emissions are increased by 3% when using PRC due to the operation of machinery during the prefabrication process. In the transportation stage, CO₂ emissions are found to increase by 3.3 times for PRC, as there is more transportation required for PRCs than for conventional construction methods. During the on-site construction stage, the PRC method demonstrates its advantages by reducing CO₂ emissions by 44.7%, which is attributed to decreased hoisting frequency and lower mechanical utilization for fewer joining activities. Overall, CO₂ emissions can be reduced by 1.24% by adopting the PRC method for high-rise buildings, and it is therefore recommended to adopt PRCs for this purpose. This research studies carbon emissions of PRC and contributes to promoting the sustainable development of prefabricated building techniques.

This study aims to understand the relationship between bedroom privacy and well-being of the elderly in aged care facilities with a compact living situation. A majority of studies on this topic were carried out in a low-density population context. The crowded living situation might compromise the well-being of residents. This study proposed five architectural parameters to measure bedroom privacy in aged care facilities: total open surface per unit, openness/solid ratio per bed, height of partition wall, number of people per unit, and personal control over bedroom privacy. SF-12 v.2 Health Survey was used to collect information on physical and mental health status. The study surveyed nine Care & Attention homes and their 213 residents in Hong Kong. The total open surface per unit and the openness/solid ratio per bed were positively associated with the physical health of residents. The height of partition walls was associated negatively with their physical and mental health conditions, and the number of people per unit was negatively associated with their physical health. More than half of respondents preferred a single unit with high partition walls; however, 40% of respondents preferred low partition walls. The provision of privacy for the elderly should be balanced with their needs for social interactions; total open surface per unit, openness/solid ratio per bed and height of partition wall should be taken into consideration. The study provides evidence and design guidelines for improving privacy in aged care facilities with a compact living environment.

Semi-outdoor learning spaces are becoming increasingly popular with both students and teachers at tropical universities; however, some of the seats are always vacant. This study focused on the selection of seating in semi-outdoor spaces in a university environment in Singapore. The methods included onsite measurements and a questionnaire to explore the factors that influence user seating preferences in terms of the physical environment, spatial perception, and the seating facilities. The study also explored factors that affect users’ lengths of stay in such spaces. It found that users attached a great importance to the thermal comfort of semi-outdoor spaces. They preferred sheltered seating and seats with views of the surrounding landscape. In addition, the study found that the higher the quality of seating facilities, the longer users spent on site. The results of this study may inform the design and layout of seating in semi-outdoor university learning spaces.

The improper disposal of construction and demolition waste (CDW) exacerbates the consumption of raw materials and emissions of greenhouse gasses. In this study, due to the high recycling rate, focusing on the meltable materials of CDW, the recycling phase of CDW is divided into four stages, namely the on-site disposal stage, the transportation stage, the reprocessing stage, and the reproduction stage. Second, based on these four stages, a carbon emission accounting model (CEAM) is established to evaluate the carbon emission benefits of meltable materials during these stages. Third, the CEAM is applied to a typical old residential area to evaluate the carbon emission reduction benefits of the CDW recycling. The results indicate that (1) the full-process carbon emissions of recycled steel, recycled flat glass, and recycled aluminum per unit mass are 677.77 kg/t, 1041.54 kg/t, and 845.39 kg/t, respectively, which are far lower than their corresponding ordinary meltable building materials (OMBMs); (2) the carbon emissions during the reproduction stage represent the primary component of carbon emissions in the MW recycling phase, accounting for 88.52% to 97.45% of the total carbon emissions; and (3) the carbon emissions generated by the recycling of cullet per unit mass are very high, reaching 1768 kg/t, which is 4.3 times that of scrap steel (409.05 kg/t) and 3.6 times that of scrap aluminum (483.76 kg/t). The research findings could provide theoretical methods and experimental data for decision-makers to formulate treatment plans for meltable materials in CDW, thereby empowering urban carbon emission reduction and promoting sustainable development. Construction parties engaged in demolition tasks should enhance on-site sorting and collaborate with recycling companies to ensure its efficient recycling. Recycling companies need to focus on high-carbon-emission stages, such as the reproduction stage, and strengthen technological research to improve carbon reduction benefits.