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EnergyProcedia 142
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9th International Conference on Applied Energy, ICAE2017, 21-24 August 2017, Cardiff, UK

Energy Savings and Sustainable Construction: Examining the

The 15th International Symposium on District Heating and Cooling
Advantages of Nanotechnology
Assessing
Ayodeji E. theOke feasibility
a
*, Clinton O. ofAigbavboa
using thea, Kgothatso
heat demand-outdoor
Semenya a
temperature aa function for a long-term district heat demand forecast
Department of Construction Management and Quantity Surveying, University of Johannesburg 2028, South Africa

I. Andrića,b,c*, A. Pinaa, P. Ferrãoa, J. Fournierb., B. Lacarrièrec, O. Le Correc

Abstract
a
IN+ Center for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research - Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
b
Due to innovation and technological advancement,
Veolia Recherche construction
& Innovation, 291 Avenue activities have 78520
Dreyfous Daniel, continuously been subjected to alteration,
Limay, France
c
modifications Département
and changesSystèmes Énergétiques
in an attempt for the et Environnement
industry - IMT
to meet the Atlantique,
demands and4aspiration
rue Alfred of
Kastler, 44300 Nantes,
their clients. One ofFrance
the technologies
gaining popularity in the industry, especially in the developed ones, is nanotechnology, and this study explores the benefits of
adopting the system for traditional construction materials with a view to enhancing sustainability of construction projects. Relevant
literature materials were examined and seventeen advantages of nanotechnology were extracted and discussed. The factors were
Abstract
further assessed through the administration of closed-ended questionnaires on construction professionals with adequate knowledge
of construction activities and associated materials. It was revealed that the adoption of nanotechnology will not only enhance the
District heating networks are commonly addressed in the literature as one of the most effective solutions for decreasing the
functionality of traditional materials but will also reduce carbon emission and reduce energy consumption. Other advantages of the
greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector. These systems require high investments which are returned through the heat
method were discussed in this paper and to this end, there is need to create awareness of the system in the construction industry as
sales. Due to the changed climate conditions and building renovation policies, heat demand in the future could decrease,
its adoption will aid the achievement of sustainable infrastructures that will be useful and beneficial to the current and future
prolonging the investment return period.
generations of the society.
©The2017main scope of this paper is to assess the feasibility of using the heat demand – outdoor temperature function for heat demand
The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
© forecast.
2017 TheThe districtPublished
Authors. of Alvalade,
by locatedLtd.
in Lisbon (Portugal), was used as a case study. The district is consisted of 665
Peer-review under responsibility ofElsevier
the scientific committee of the 9th International Conference on Applied Energy.
Peer-review
buildings thatunder responsibility
vary of the scientific
in both construction periodcommittee of theThree
and typology. 9th International Conference
weather scenarios (low,onmedium,
Applied high)
Energy.and three district
renovation scenarios were developed (shallow, intermediate, deep). To estimate the error, obtained heat demand values were
Keywords: Construction materials; Nanotechnology; Project success; Sustainable construction; Sustainable development.
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.(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).
TheNano,
valuewhich by definition
of slope coefficient means
increaseddwarf adoptedwithin
on average from the
the Greek,
range ofindicates
3.8% upone divided
to 8% by a billion.
per decade, One nanometer
that corresponds to the
isdecrease
indeed onein the number of heating hours of 22-139h during the heating season (depending on the combinationofofthe
divided by a billion, which by practical example is, about one divided by eighty thousands diameter
weather and
ofrenovation
hair on a human
scenarios[1]. Nanotechnology
considered). can behand,
On the other regarded as aintercept
function 'catch-all' portrayal
increased forof exercisesper
7.8-12.7% (any utilization
decade of science
(depending on the
and innovation)
coupled at the
scenarios). Thenanometer scale that
values suggested have
could be applications
used to modify in this present reality
the function [2]. for
parameters Furthermore,
the scenariosnanotechnology
considered, and
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 author. Tel.: +27-84-915-5117.
Cooling.
E-mail address: emayok@gmail.com
Keywords: Heat demand; Forecast; Climate change
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.

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.2017.12.285
3840 Ayodeji E. Oke et al. / Energy Procedia 142 (2017) 3839–3843
2 AE Oke/ Energy Procedia 00 (2017) 000–000

depicts the creation and usage of useful materials, gadgets and frameworks with novel capacities that are construct
either in light of geometrical size or on material-particular characteristics of nanostructures [3]. Nanotechnology in
itself obtains a variety of definitions, but it basically refers to the scientific ability to manipulate and understand matter
at highly microscopic scales or the nanoscale, say, from 0.1 run to 100 nm. The hugeness and significance of acquiring
a related amount of control of matter at this particular scale, the nanoscale, is that at this scale, diverse laws of material
science become an integral factor (quantum physics); metals and ceramics which form part of the group of traditional
materials show new related functionalities and greatly improved properties, the behavior of surfaces starts to dominate
the behavior of bulk materials, and whole new realms open up for us [4,5].
A wide scope of difficulties confronted by the development business, extending from the execution of the materials
to safety and environmental issues, identify with materials and their properties. Recent advancements and
developments in different regions of nanotechnology show noteworthy guarantee in helping to address these
difficulties [6]. Therefore, this research study aims to identify the advantages of which development and application
of nanotechnology can instill in traditional construction materials, such as concrete, steel, glass etc. which would
directly aid sustainable construction.

2. Nanotechnology and Sustainable Construction

The construction industry constitutes a critical sector of national economies throughout the world, both in
developing and in developed nations [7], for instance, in 2013, it added up to 5.7% of the European Union's gross
value. In the meantime, the construction industry has been helping in aiding sustainable development goals in the
areas of social cooperation, society creation and for the indigenous environment (resources usage and asset utilization,
air outpourings, water use, arrive utilize, fermentation, hurtfulness/harmfulness, squander creation, vitality use being
the critical issues to consider). Sustainable or environmental technologies are defined as those which are (or are
potentially) available that could contribute to helping diminish human weights on the earth or natural resources while
at the same time maintaining desired standards of living [8].
The market for sustainable buildings is expanding as the development business has perceived that they may reduce
some negative impact on the earth and bring essential social and ecological advantages [9]. Therefore, selecting
inappropriate materials may influence the performance of the building and may directly inhibit the accomplishment
of the coveted sustainability goals [10]. In the coming years, with its infrastructure, urban growth will continue to
produce extreme impact on the natural environment stemming from the consumption of energy, the utilization of
materials and the growing consumption of raw materials. However, previous studies have revealed that
nanotechnology is on course to accomplishing genuine, aggressive and practical development as well as advancement
of development business [3,4,5]. This implies that if the potential for an era of durable and viable construction
materials are to be realized, there is a need for the application of nanotechnology to traditional construction materials,
and this will help in ensuring sustainability of various materials in the construction industry.
Properties of most construction materials can be measured but some are subjective and non-quantifiable [11].
Among the quantifiable properties, economical materials are portrayed as materials with high reused content, low-
discharging contaminants, fast renewable periods, high reused content, free of unsafe contaminants, low expending,
and low reparable and very drawn out [12,13]. Non-quantifiable properties are additionally credited to economical
materials, for example, simple to work with, safe to utilize, exceptionally fulfilling to the client, something the general
population needs, accomplish more with less, socially and innovatively rewarding [13,14]. Therefore, the application
of nanotechnology to traditional construction materials promises the existence of relevant and desirable properties in
those materials, which may then result in the general achievement of sustainability of construction projects.
The model of sustainability has become a mainstream matter of interest not only among organizations, but also
government agencies and the general public [15]. While the goal of organizations’ activities remains economic
performance, there has been consideration for the reduction of negative effects on the natural environment while also
giving attention to the third aspect of social sustainable practice [16]. However, socio-economic and modern
engineering advances are contributing factors for sustainable development in the construction industry [17]. For
instance, in the last few decades, governments and businesses began to adopt more sustainability dimensions in their
policies and economic activities, while an increasing number of companies rely on sustainability indicators to assess
their level of corporate social responsibility (CSR) [16,18]. Sustainable construction can make a huge difference to
 Ayodeji E. Oke et al. / Energy Procedia 142 (2017) 3839–3843 3841
AE Oke et al / Energy Procedia 00 (2017) 000–000 3

global environmental sustainability, particularly through an extreme decrease in the utilization and consumption of
natural resources.
From the foregoing, one of the most promising technologies, which is known as nanotechnology, have the potential
to address major global sustainability problems. Much vulnerability and uneasiness exist about the nanotechnologies'
potential of presenting new undesirable ecological, wellbeing, security, and social elements with some authors
emphasizing on the threats of atomic power, asbestos, and Genetically Modified Organisms [15]. Regardless of the
view, nanotechnology is critical for attending to urbanization related challenges, extending from environmental
change and water sullying to access to sound sustenance and open wellbeing [19]. It has been observed that
nanotechnology might be a basic empowering segment of practical advancement when they are utilized astutely and
when the social setting of their application is considered [20]. The construction industry is a conservative one, that is,
it is a classic example of industry that is resource-based with limited sustainability. The challenge is to assist in its
transformation to a knowledge-based economic activity where information and knowledge are sourced as value-added
outcomes. However, apart from using Information Technologies, cutting-edge technologies such as nanotechnology
are needed to drive this revolution and reshape the industry [3]. Through enhancing the functionality and performance
of materials, the utilization of Nano-materials will increase the sustainability of infrastructure and buildings by
bringing in reduced carbon emissions, partial/non-utility energy generation and structural health self-assessments [21].

3. Research Methodology

This paper examines various advantages of adopting nanotechnology for traditional materials in the South African
construction industry. To achieve the objective, quantitative design approach was adopted through the administration
of questionnaires on relevant stakeholders in the industry. The targeted groups of respondents for the study include
engineers, architects, project managers, construction managers as well as quantity surveyors that are involved in the
design and execution of construction projects in Gauteng Province of South Africa. To obtain necessary and relevant
information, purposive sampling was employed to sample 64 respondents including chemical engineers with
experience of construction activities and concept of nanotechnology as applicable to the construction industry.
The questionnaire adopted is a close-ended and multiple-choice type comprising of two sections. The first part was
designed to obtain information regarding the characteristics of respondents while the second part dwells majorly on
the objective of the study, which is centred on the various benefits of adopting nanotechnology principle to improve
sustainability and energy saving of construction materials. A five point Likert scale (1=strongly disagree; 2=disagree;
3=neutral; 4=agree; 5=strongly agree) were adopted for this aspect of the questionnaire. The Likert-scale were further
employed to compute mean item score (MIS) and standard deviation (SD), which were used to determine and rank
the significance of the advantages of nanotechnology.

4. Findings and Discussion

From the distributed questionnaires, 57 were returned while 52 of the instruments were completely filled and
certified for further analysis. With an average of about 9 years of experience, current profession of the respondents
revealed that 13% are architects, 31% of are chemical engineers, 12% are project managers, 10% are construction
managers, 12% of are civil engineers and 23% of the respondents are quantity surveyors.
Table 1 shows the respondents’ ranking of the advantages of applying nanotechnology to traditional construction
materials with a view to enhancing sustainable construction practices. The findings reveal that enhancement of the
functionality of traditional construction material is the most important advantage of nanotechnology with a mean item
score (MIS) of 4.44 and a standard deviation (SD) of 0.79. the other notable benefits include the ability of
nanotechnology to reduce material carbon emissions (with a MIS of 3.92 and a SD of 0.74); create a new construction
material economy (with a MIS of 3.90 and a SD = 0.87); increase the need for more sustainable development (with a
MIS of 3.88 and a SD = 0.83); change construction into a knowledge-based economic activity (with a MIS of 3.88
and a SD of 0.88); improve structural health assessment methods (with a MIS of 3.87 and a SD = 0.91); reduce energy
consumption (with a MIS of 3.85 and a SD = 0.85); help address urban sustainability challenges (with a MIS of 3.83
and a SD = 0.94); minimize material environmental impacts (with a MIS of 3.79 and a SD = 0.70); introduce more
3842 Ayodeji E. Oke et al. / Energy Procedia 142 (2017) 3839–3843
4 AE Oke/ Energy Procedia 00 (2017) 000–000

economically viable materials (with a MIS of 3.79 and a SD = 1.00); introduce materials for prolonged building life
(with a MIS of 3.77 and a SD = 0.67); produce new generation high performance materials (with a MIS of 3.77 and a
SD = 0.70); increase infrastructure durability (with a MIS of 3.77 and a SD = 0.90); introduce materials with high
recyclable content (with a MIS of 3.77 with a SD = 0.78); reduce raw material consumption (with MIS of 3.75 and a
SD = 0.95); and produce low contaminant emitting materials with MIS of 3.73 and SD of 0.77. The least important
benefit of nanotechnology is its ability to create sustainable infrastructure with MIS of 3.48 and SD of 0.70. The
Cronbach’s Alpha (α) for the variables was calculated to be 0.920 which is considered very good as it tends towards
1.00.
Table 1: Advantages of Applying Nanotechnology

Factors MIS SD R
Enhance the functionality of traditional construction materials 4.04 0.79 1
Reduce material carbon emissions 3.92 0.74 2
Create a new construction material economy 3.90 0.87 3
Increase the need for more sustainable development 3.88 0.83 4
Change construction into a knowledge-based economic activity 3.88 0.88 5
Improve structural health assessment methods 3.87 0.91 6
Reduce energy consumption 3.85 0.85 7
Help address urban sustainability challenges 3.83 0.94 8
Minimize material environmental impacts 3.79 0.70 9
Introduce more economically viable materials 3.79 1.00 10
Introduce materials for prolonged building life 3.77 0.67 11
Produce new generation high performance materials 3.77 0.70 12
Introduce materials with high recyclable content 3.77 0.78 13
Increase infrastructure durability 3.77 0.90 14
Reduce raw material consumption 3.75 0.95 15
Produce low contaminant emitting materials 3.73 0.77 16
Create sustainable infrastructure 3.48 0.70 17
MIS = Mean Item Score; SD = Standard Deviation; R = Rank

These findings are in agreement with the report by Van Broekhuizen et al. [22] and Tergat [23. It was stated that
the applications of nanotechnology may produce enhanced materials whose components and structures will exhibit
novel and significantly improved properties, which will raise the related functionality features of materials. The
features of which include reduced material carbon emissions, and the introduction of materials for prolonged building
life [5,8,21]. Subsequently, Porro [3] emphasized that this particular approach (nanotechnology) is essential towards
the realisation of new generation high performance materials and the possibility of transforming construction into a
knowledge-based economic activity. This therefore means that, through such applications, the possibility of
sustainable materials for construction projects can be realised.

5. Conclusion and Recommendation

The objective of this study is to evaluate the advantages of applying nanotechnology to traditional construction
materials to enhance sustainable construction projects. The finding from the questionnaire study obtained from the
respondents showed that enhancing the functionality of traditional construction materials, reducing material carbon
emissions, creating a new construction material economy, introducing materials for prolonged building life and
increasing the need for more sustainable development are the major advantages of applying nanotechnology to
traditional construction materials, which will subsequently aid sustainable development in the study area.
The findings of this study implies that emerging technologies and scientific applications hold a defined stance
towards advancing strategic sectors of the country’s economy and, specifically, infrastructural growth. In construction,
the applications of nanotechnology to traditional materials offers a chance for the industry to increase its innovative
capacity and also speed up their progress towards national and global sustainability. Subsequently, this then pushes
the construction sector towards research and development, which will then advance construction greatly. The findings
revealed that nanotechnology, which is an emerging technology, has the potential to mitigate some of the major
challenges facing the construction industry especially in relation to construction materials. For instance, the increase
 Ayodeji E. Oke et al. / Energy Procedia 142 (2017) 3839–3843 3843
AE Oke et al / Energy Procedia 00 (2017) 000–000 5

in the related functions of traditional construction materials through nanotechnology would in turn reduce the level of
raw material consumption.
In agreement with the literature review and survey results, the study has shown that the improvement of traditional
materials through nanotechnology is essential for construction and sustainable construction. There is therefore the
need for stakeholders such as contractors, consultants, regulatory agencies and others tasked with the responsibility
of managing and regulating activities in the construction industry to continuously sensitize members of the industry
through training, research and development in areas of technology implementation, especially the adoption of
nanotechnology and their benefits. This study has examined the general benefits of nanotechnology on sustainable
construction with an emphasis on energy savings and efficiency, further studies can be geared at examining in detail
using historical data, the adoption of nanotechnology for energy savings in various forms of construction projects.

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