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(2017) 000–000
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Energy
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Procedia 00(2017)
(2017)2491–2497
000–000
www.elsevier.com/locate/procedia

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

Biomimicry principles as evaluation criteria of sustainability in the

The 15th International Symposium on District Heating and Cooling
construction industry
Assessing
Olusegun the feasibilityOguntona
Aanuoluwapo of using aa the heat
*, Clinton Ohisdemand-outdoor
Aigbavboabb
temperature
a,b
Department
Department of
a,b
function
of Construction
forandaQuantity
Construction Management
Management and
long-term
Quantity Surveying,
district
Surveying, University
University of
heat Johanesburg,
of Johannesburg,
demand
Johannesburg, Johanesburg,
forecast
South
South Africa
Africa

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

Abstract
Abstract
a
IN+ Center for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research - Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
The
The construction
construction industry is
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environment such as pollution,
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consumptions, Département
amongst Systèmes
others. Énergétiques
Sustainability et
has Environnement
now become -
a IMT Atlantique,
necessity
consumptions, amongst others. Sustainability has now become a necessity in order to lower in 4 rue
order Alfred
to lowerKastler,
these44300
these Nantes,
impacts
impacts and France
and to achieve
to achieve social
social
and economic benefits. Globally, the quest for sustainable solutions to human challenges has intensified,
and economic benefits. Globally, the quest for sustainable solutions to human challenges has intensified, impelling scientists, impelling scientists,
engineers, architects,
engineers, architects, designers
designers and
and innovators
innovators to to now
now consult
consult and
and learn
learn from
from nature’s
nature’s experience.
experience. Hence,
Hence, biomimicry,
biomimicry, thethe study
study
and emulation
and emulation of of nature’s
nature’s forms,
forms, functions
functions andand strategies
strategies toto proffer
proffer sustainable
sustainable solutions
solutions to to human
human challenges.
challenges. The
The purpose
purpose of
of this
this
Abstract
research is
research is to
to examine
examine biomimicry
biomimicry principles
principles asas critical
critical success
success criteria
criteria of
of sustainability
sustainability in in the
the industry.
industry. Quantitative
Quantitative res
res earch
earch
method was
method was adopted
adopted andand an
an online
online questionnaire
questionnaire was was used
used for
for data
data collection.
collection. Findings
Findings fromfrom the
the study
study revealed
revealed twenty-three
twenty-three (23)
(23)
District heating
variables their networks
in their order of are commonly
of importance.
importance. Theaddressed
implication in of
thethis
literature
that, as
is that, one of the
assessing and most effective
aligning solutionsoffor
the activities
activities thedecreasing
construction the
variables
greenhousein gas order
emissions from the The
building implication
sector. Theseof this is
systems assessing
require high and aligning
investments the
which are of
returned the construction
through the heat
industry
industry with
withto the identified
thethe
identified biomimicry principles has
has the potential of
of achieving the
the goal of sustainability in the
the industry.
sales. Due changedbiomimicry principles and
climate conditions the potential
building achieving
renovation policies, goal
heatof demand
sustainability
in thein future
industry.
could decrease,
© 2017
2017 The
The Authors.
©prolonging Authors. Published
Published by
by Elsevier
Elsevier Ltd.
Ltd.
© 2017 The the investment
Authors. return
Published by period.
Elsevier Ltd.
Peer-review
Peer-review under
under responsibility of the scientific committee of the 9th International Conference on Applied Energy.
Peer-review underofresponsibility
The main scope this paper is of
responsibility to the
of the scientific
assessscientific committee
committee
the feasibility of the
of
of usingthethe9thheat
9th International
International Conference
demand –Conference on Applied
on
outdoor temperatureApplied Energy.for heat demand
Energy.
function
forecast. Biomimicry;
Keywords: The districtconstruction
of Alvalade, located in Lisbon (Portugal), was used as a case study. The district is consisted of 665
Keywords: Biomimicry; construction industry;
industry; environment;
environment; nature
nature and
and sustainability.
sustainability.
buildings that vary in both construction period and typology. Three weather scenarios (low, medium, high) and three district
renovation scenarios were developed (shallow, intermediate, deep). To estimate the error, obtained heat demand values were
compared with results from a dynamic heat demand model, previously developed and validated by the authors.
1. Introduction
1.The
Introduction
results showed that when only weather change is considered, the margin of error could be acceptable for some applications
(the error in annual demand was lower than 20% for all weather scenarios considered). However, after introducing renovation
The construction
The construction
scenarios, industry
industry
the error value has been
has
increased been recognized
up torecognized as one
as
59.5% (dependingone on
of the
of the weather
the most important
most important sectorsscenarios
sectors
and renovation for human
for human civilization,
civilization,
combination owing
owing
considered).
to
toTheits ability
itsvalue
ability to improve
to improve
of slope society’s
society’s
coefficient physical
physical
increased environment
environment
on average [1].
within the [1]. The
rangeThe industry
industry
of 3.8% is not
up tois8%not only
peronly an integral
an that
decade, integral part
part oftothe
corresponds of the
the
modernisation
modernisation process,
decrease in the process, but
number ofbut its labour-intensive
its labour-intensive
heating nature makes
naturethemakes
hours of 22-139h during it particularly
heatingit season
particularly attractive
attractive
(depending as
as a meansofof
a means
on the combination creating
ofweather
creating
and
employment
employment in
in developing
renovation scenarios
developing countries
considered). [2]
On the
countries . With
[2]other the
the on-going
Withhand, large
large scale
function intercept
on-going development
increased
scale of
of physical
for 7.8-12.7%
development infrastructures
per decade
physical around
(dependingaround
infrastructures on the
the world,
coupled the burden
scenarios). of
The the construction
values suggested industry
could be on
usedthe
to environment
modify the remain
function unchanged
parameters and
for the
the world, the burden of the construction industry on the environment remain unchanged and continuously increasing. continuously
scenarios increasing.
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
Corresponding author.
Cooling. author. Tel.:
Tel.: +27-74-207-6075.
+27-74-207-6075.
E-mail address:
E-mail address: architectoguntona12@gmail.com.
architectoguntona12@gmail.com.
Keywords: Heat demand; Forecast; Climate change
1876-6102 ©
1876-6102 © 2017
2017 The
The Authors.
Authors. Published
Published by
by Elsevier
Elsevier Ltd.
Ltd.
Peer-review
Peer-review under
under responsibility
responsibility of
of the
the scientific
scientific committee
committee of
of the
the 9th
9th International
International Conference
Conference on
on Applied
Applied Energy.
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.2017.12.188
2492 Olusegun Aanuoluwapo Oguntona et al. / Energy Procedia 142 (2017) 2491–2497
2 O.A Oguntona & C.O Aigbavboa / Energy Procedia 00 (2017) 000–000

There is therefore, great urgency to make sustainable interventions now while these built environments are being
created, rather than to try and change things afterwards. To this effect, there is increasing need for environmental
awareness in the industry, making the term ‘sustainable construction’ (SC) to become popular and inevitable [3].
Sustainability means the use of natural resources in such a condition of equilibrium that they do not reach decay,
depletion and an unrenewable point and can be handed down to the next generations [4]. Despite the significant
numbers of definitions of sustainability that have emerged since the Brundtland definition, there is a wide acceptance
that sustainability integrates, at least, three dimensions, namely social, economic, and environmental [5]. It can
therefore be inferred that holistic sustainability should incorporate these three dimensions. Terms such as Factor 4 and
Factor 10, ecological rucksack, ecological footprint, the Natural Step, biomimicry, biophilia, ecological economics,
and eco-efficiency which been used to describe the overarching philosophical and scientific concepts that apply to a
paradigm shift towards sustainability [6].
The shift of the construction industry from the traditional paradigm towards sustainable development has become
a global movement in the form of ‘sustainable construction’. SC outlines the tenet that the construction industry can
reach sustainability [7]. It is defined as the creation and responsible management of a healthy built environment based
on resource efficient and ecological principles [8]. SC is often used interchangeably with the terms ‘green’, ‘high-
performance’, and ‘environmentally friendly’ in the construction industry [6,9]. The aim of SC is to reduce or eliminate
environmental problems and issues associated with built facilities and construction activities while maximizing the
potential benefits to society and the economy [10]. Maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth and
employment; social progress which recognises the needs of everyone; prudent use of resources; and effective
protection of the environment are other aims of SC identified [11].
However, there are several challenges to the adoption and implementation of SC in the construction industry.
Identifying these barriers is imperative to successfully proffer a methodology with more sustainable potential for the
industry. As part of a completed study that examined biomimicry for the optimization of sustainability in the South
African construction industry (SACI), the results of a questionnaire survey of construction and biomimicry
professional’s perceptions of biomimicry principles in optimizing sustainability in the SACI is presented. A review of
literature on biomimicry is first presented. This is followed by a theoretical framework based on the current view of
the principles of SC. Subsequently, biomimicry principles are presented towards incorporating the appropriate
variables. The next section then rationalizes the research method adopted for the study and then the discussion of the
of the findings. The final section attempts to draw conclusions from the study.

2. Origin of biomimicry

The art of studying and emulating nature for proffering solutions to human needs is not a new practice. Early
humans relied on nature for the provision of food, shelter and other native innovations for their existence and survival.
Many of these innovations are renowned in the areas of medical and pharmaceutical sciences; shelter and shelter
architectures; weapons and defence, including armours, sensors, and alarm systems; agriculture and food production;
and processes related to manufacturing [12]. By mere observation as well as in-depth study of nature, early scientists
and innovators have been able to gather invaluable information abouth the functions and sustainable exploitation of
resources. The natural world metamorphoses and sustains itself over the long term by meeting its own needs and
providing sustainable remedies to its challenges. This is as a result of its over 3.8 billion years of evolution, making
nature an extraordinary role model for harmonious balance and proportion, encompassing efficiency, collaboration,
resource utilisation, and longevity [13]. Although, their sustainability cannot be ascertained, the following are early
records of iconic nature-inspired innovations, amongst many others:

 Proposed design of flying machines also known as the ornithopter by Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), where he
mentioned bats, kites, and birds as his inspiration sources [14]. Even though, Leonardo da Vinci only drew the
sketches of the ornithopter and never built one, the first successful flight of a manned ornithopter was recorded in
1942 [15]. Since then, there have been records of successful free-flight, manned, robotic and electrically powered
ornithopters.
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 The invention of velcro, by Georges de Mestral, a Swiss engineer, as inspired by the removable yet easily re-
attachable attribute of the prickly seed burrs from the burdock plant [16]. This idea is what led to the invention of
hook and loop fastener, a commercial product developed after 25 years of discovering Velcro [12,16].
 Sir Joseph Paxton’s design of the London’s Crystal Palace at Chatsworth in England, inspired by the huge leaves
of the giant Amazonian water lily and subsequently erected in the year 1851 [17,18].

3. Biomimicry definition

The term ‘biomimicry’ became popularised and widely circulated in 1997 through a book titled Biomimicry:
Innovation Inspired by Nature. The book was written by Janine M. Benyus, a biologist, author, and co-founder of the
Biomimicry Guild and who is widely recognised as the founder of this novel field of study [19]. There is no difference
between ‘biomimicry’ and ‘biomimetics’, as other terms such as bio-inspired design, biomimesis, bioinspiration,
bioanalogous design, biognosis, and bionics are often used interchangeably with both terms [16,20,21]. A careful
diagnosis of these terms as used in different literature reveal their nature-based transfer of knowledge and inspiration
for solving human challenges. Most of which are created by the unchecked growth in industrialisation and exploitation
of natural resources globally [22].
Biomimicry, coming from a combination of the Greek words bios (life) and mī́mēsis (imitation), it literally means
‘life imitation’ or the ‘imitation of life’ [23,24]. It is defined as the process of creating sustainable designs and solutions
through the study and conscious emulation of natural forms, processes, and ecosystems [25,26]. Biomimicry is
perceived by many to be a branch of biological science going by the sound of the term, the scientific knowledge within
biomimicry only serves as a means through which nature is learnt about [27]. It however heralds a transition from an
era of extracting from nature to learning from its forms, processes and strategies [25]. Over the years, nature have been
able to develop outstanding attributes for their survival, efficiency and performance, a rich source biomimicry aims to
tap into to achieve its overarching goal of sustainability.

4. Biomimicry principles

In the book by Janine M. Benyus titled Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature, nine principles of nature were
enumerated, which are also the basic principles underpinning the concept of biomimicry [19]. They are the following:
nature runs on sunlight; nature uses only the energy it needs; nature fits form to function; nature recycles everything;
nature rewards cooperation; nature banks on diversity; nature demands local expertise; nature curbs excesses from
within; and nature taps the power of limits. However, the Biomimicry Institute postulated the biomimicry principles
which are an expanded and comprehensive version of the principles of nature. These principles are abstracted
biological strategies, some of which are obvious and self-explanatory, that can be found in most of the organisms and
which enable life to be successful in regenerating itself [28]. They are creative common tools through which
biomimetic designs, materials, and applications are evaluated for sustainability [29]. They are important checklists to
be adhered to in ensuring the application of biomimicry resulting in sustainable outcomes. According to the
Biomimciry Group [30], the six (6) major principles of biomimicry and their constituting twenty-three (23) principles
are:

4.1. Resource (material and energy) efficient

This is skilfully and conservatively taking advantage of resources and opportunities. It consists of four (4)
principles, namely using multifunctional design (meet multiple needs with one elegant solution); using low energy
processes (minimise energy consumption by reducing requisite temperatures, pressures, and/or time for reactions);
recycling all materials (keep all materials in a closed loop); and fitting form to function (select shape or pattern based
on need).
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4 O.A Oguntona & C.O Aigbavboa / Energy Procedia 00 (2017) 000–000

4.2. Evolve to survive

This is the continuous incorporation and embodying of information to ensure enduring performance. It consists of
three (3) principles, namely replicating strategies that work (repeat successful approaches); integrating the unexpected
(incorporate mistakes in ways that can lead to new forms and functions); and information reshuffling (exchange and
alter information to create new options).

4.3. Adapt to changing conditions

This is appropriately responding to dynamic contexts. It consists of five (5) principles, namely maintaining integrity
through self-renewal (persist by constantly adding energy and matter to heal and improve the system); embodying
resilience through variation, redundancy, and decentralisation (maintain function following disturbance by
incorporating a variety of duplicate forms, processes, or systems that are not located exclusively together); and
incorporating diversity (include multiple forms, processes, or systems to meet a functional need).

4.4. Integrate development with growth

This entails optimally investing and engaging in strategies that promote both development and growth. It also
consists of three (3) principles, namely combining modular and nested components (fit multiple units within each other
progressively from simple to complex); building from the bottom up (assemble components one unit at a time); and
self-organising (create conditions to allow components to interact in concert to move toward an enriched system).

4.5. Been locally attuned and responsive

This is fitting into and integrating with the surrounding environment. It consists of five (5) principles, namely using
readily available materials (build with abundant, accessible materials); harnessing freely available energy (use of
solar/renewable energy); cultivating cooperative relationships (find value through win-win interactions); leveraging
cyclic processes (take advantage of phenomena that repeat themselves); and using feedback loops (engage in cyclic
information flows to modify a reaction appropriately).

4.6. Using life-friendly chemistry

This entails the use of chemistry that supports life processes. It also consists of three (3) principles, namely building
selectively with a small subset of elements (assemble relatively few elements in elegant ways); breaking down products
into benign constituents (use chemistry in which decomposition results in no harmful by-products); and doing
chemistry in water (use water as solvent).

5. Research methodological framework

A quantitative research approach is adopted. Quantitative research seeks to acquire information from subjects or
respondents by means of self-report, of which the study participants respond to questions posed to them by the
researcher [31,32]. The combination of primary data (questionnaire survey) and secondary data (literature review) was
employed to present the informative evidence on the respondent’s perspectives of biomimicry principles as evaluation
yardstick of sustainability. The targeted respondents for this study were drawn (random sampling techniques) from
the list of registered construction professionals (architects, quantity surveyors, construction managers, civil engineers,
project managers, and others) and biomimicry specialists in the South African construction industry. 120 structured
questionnaires (consisting of closed-ended questions) were administered to the respondents. This is to elicit their
perceived likelihood of the adopted twenty-three (23) biomimicry principles to optimize sustainability in the SACI
based on a five-point Likert rating scale (extremely likely=5, likely=4, neutral=3, unlikely=2, and extremely
unlikely=1). 104 completed questionnaires are received representing an 87 percent response rate. The Statistical
Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16 was used to analyze the data. For the analysis, descriptive statistics
 Olusegun Aanuoluwapo Oguntona et al. / Energy Procedia 142 (2017) 2491–2497 2495
O.A Oguntona & C.O Aigbavboa / Energy Procedia 00 (2017) 000–000 5

(i.e. mean and standard deviation) was employed. With a mean score of 2.50 or more, a factor is deemed to be
significant to the study [33]. Mean values of the factors and standard deviation were then tabulated for comparison.

6. Results and discussions

The demographic background of the respondents revealed that 53.8 percent are male while 46.2 percent are female.
Majority of the respondents possesses master’s degree (54.8 percent), followed by bachelor’s degree (25 percent),
diploma (11.5 percent), and doctorate degree (8.7 percent). As shown in Table 1, the mean ranking of each biomimicry
principles was tabulated to help provide a clearer picture of the consensus reached by the respondents.

Table 1. Respondents rating of biomimicry principles in optimizing sustainability in the construction industry
Mean (x̅ ) Standard deviation Rank (R)
(σX)
Harnessing freely available energy 4.89 0.309 1
Using readily available materials 4.83 0.380 2
Recycling all materials 4.62 0.658 3
Using low energy process 4.56 0.554 4
Using multi-functional design 4.49 0.521 5
Incorporating diversity 4.43 0.498 6
Replicating strategies that work 4.42 0.569 7
Fitting form to function 4.34 0.877 8
Cultivating cooperative/collaborative 4.32 0.754 9
relationships
Leveraging cyclic processes 4.30 0.621 10
Using feedback loops 4.24 0.731 11
Self-organizing 4.18 0.619 12
Building from the bottom up 4.17 0.853 13
Doing chemistry in water 4.11 0.985 14
Maintaining integrity through self-renewal 4.08 0.809 15
Breaking down products into benign 4.01 0.940 16
constituents
Embodying resilience through variation 3.92 1.121 17
Embodying resilience through decentralization 3.89 0.965 18
Building selectively with a small subset of 3.88 0.862 19
elements
Combining modular and nested components 3.87 1.005 20
Integrating the unexpected 3.81 0.882 21
Reshuffling information 3.65 1.031 22
Embodying resilience through redundancy 3.31 1.215 23

Based on the results from the descriptive analysis, ‘harnessing freely available energy’ ranked first with a mean
score of 4.89 and standard deviation (SD) of 0.309, was considered by the respondents as the most important
biomimicry principle that can promote sustainable construction practices in the SACI. ‘Using readily available
materials’ was ranked second with a mean score of 4.83 and SD of 0.380; ‘recycling all materials’ was ranked third
with a mean score of 4.62 and SD of 0.658; ‘using low energy processes’ was ranked fourth with a mean score of 4.56
and SD of 0.554; and ‘using multi-functional design’ was ranked fifth with a mean score of 4.49 and SD of 0.521. In
addition, ‘incorporating diversity’ was ranked sixth with a mean score of 4.43 and SD of 0.498; ‘replicating strategies
2496 Olusegun Aanuoluwapo Oguntona et al. / Energy Procedia 142 (2017) 2491–2497
6 O.A Oguntona & C.O Aigbavboa / Energy Procedia 00 (2017) 000–000

that work’ was ranked seventh with a mean score of 4.42 and SD of 0.569; ‘fitting form to function’ was ranked eighth
with a mean score of 4.34 and SD of 0.877; ‘cultivating cooperative/collaborative relationships’ was ranked ninth with
a mean score of 4.32 and SD of 0.754; and ‘leveraging cyclic processes’ was ranked tenth with a mean score of 4.30
and SD of 0.621. On the principles of SC, the above results is in agreement with a number of researchers
[6,10,34,35,36].

7. Conclusion

To understand the principles of biomimicry as evaluation tools for achieving their overarching goal of sustainability,
Goss [19] suggested that the following questions are to be posed: Is the design locally attuned and responsive? Is it
informed by local inhabitants of all species? Is it resourceful and connected to local feedback loops? Does the design
integrate cycles? Does it adapt to seasons, re-use materials, and maintain itself through turnover? Is the design
resilient? Can it withstand disturbance while maintaining function? Does it heal after a disturbance? Does the design
optimize rather than maximize? Does it fit form to function? Does it re-use materials or use recycled materials? Does
the design use benign manufacturing? Is the reaction done at standard pressure and temperature? Does the design
leverage its interdependence in the system? Does it enhance the system’s capacity to support life long-term? Is its
success based on whether it contributes to the continuity of life? The listed biomimicry principles should therefore be
used as checklist of sustainability in the construction industry.
As the factor with the highest mean ranking, energy and materials efficiency at the different stages of construction
activities is a major sustainability criterion in the construction industry. Incorporation of alternative sources of energy
such as photovoltaics and fuel cells which are readily available are also a major criterion of sustainability in the
construction industry. Another important factor to note is that selection of construction materials and technologies
should be based on their sustainable characteristics i.e. reusability, high recyclability, low or zero greenhouse gas
emission, durability, locally produced and longevity, amongst others. These qualities which are believed will optimise
sustainability in the construction industry should be a yardstick to be considered by stakeholders in specifying the kind
of materials and technologies to be employed in a given project. By providing incentives, government should also
support and encourage the use of such materials and technologies in a bid to fast-track the face out of the widely-used
ones with negative impacts on the human environment.

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the Department of Construction Management and Quantity Surveying, Faculty of
Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Johannesburg, South Africa, for the opportunity to carry out
this study with them. The authors also wish to thank all participants who responded to the survey.

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