Noise, lighting, thermal c

ontrol &
Building Services
 BSE & Better Living
• Indoor environment can be controlled by building ser
vices and/or building forms
• This evening, we look at the issues of noise, lighting a
nd thermal control which are 3 inter-related topics.
• More issues on sustainability, green living and buildin
g services will be introduced in week 11.
 Noise Impact

• Excessive exposure to noise (unwanted sound)

can cause psychological problems such as men
tal stress, anxiousness, insomnia etc.
• 1/7 of HK population are exposing to excessive
traffic noise
• Many environmental noise sources
• Ways to stop noise?????
Human Hearing Range
Common noise sources
 More about urban noise

• RTHK : Hong Kong Connection

讓耳朵張開 , 鏗鏘集 (22 July
2012)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bNKibIV5oM
Way to Better Living : Noise Co
ntrol in/for buildings
• To reduce noise levels :
• Noise Source control
• Transmission path
• Receptor
 Examples of Source Control
• Re-direction of road traffic, aircraft flight
paths
• Reduced traffic volume
• Exercise control on noise production (e.g.
construction permit, new vehicle promoti
on)
• Low noise road surfaces
 Transmission Path Control
• Local Road Noise Barriers (Tolo Harbour)
 Transmission Path Control
• Semi Enclosure : Castle Peak Road
 Transmission Path Control
• Full enclosure : Wong Chu Road
Overseas Roadside noise barriers
 More Examples of Transmis
sion Control
• Earth Mounds
– Screen noise similar
to noise barrier
– Take up much more
spaces than barriers
– Improve visual
quality
 Examples of Receptor Control
• Egg-crate protrusions/
balcony
– Ottawa, Canada
– Screen noise from noise source
Any other examples of noise control
measure(s) in Hong Kong?

Any measure(s) other than reducing

noise level?
How lighting in buildings improves
our lives
• Providing illumination
• Creating atmosphere
• Defining spaces in buildings
• Increase aesthetic values of buildings
/indoor spaces
• Building services
 Importance of lighting Design

鍾無艷

Note the contrast with the amount of lighting going into the interior
 Types of Lighting Design

• Natural lighting (From the sun, but ca

n it be used alone even in daytime?)
• Artificial lighting – lamps : electrical s
ystem
 Natural lighting –
Study of the Sun path
Sun path varies from
day to day
Daylight penetration in
flats varies…..

Ref: Lechner (1991)

http://astro.unl.edu/naap/motion3/animations/sunmotions.swf
 Designing natural lighting
• Sun path
• How natural lighting goes into the interior
– Through glass windows
– Through glass blocks
– Through open space
 Natural Lighting
• Residential Buildings in Hong Kong
• Parc Versailles
• Skylight windows constructed for the top floor
residential units
 Natural Lighting
Installed with shading canvas
Natural lighting in building design
Berlin Parliament House
 Natural lighting in building design

• Day lighting as major light source

• Use mirror to reflect light
• Light as a tool to express design idea
and improve artisitc value
 Natural lighting in building design

Church of Light, Osaka,

Japan
• An example of using day
lighting to express design
• Light pass through the slits
to create a cross
 Natural lighting in building design

St. Peter’s Church, Firminy,

France
• Another example of using day
lighting to express design
• Holes on the concrete wall are
circular in shape
• When light passes through the
holes, it looks as if the stars
seen at night

Church of Light, Osaka

Natural lighting in building design

The Hong Kong International Airport

 Natural lighting in building design

• Roof and glass curtain design to allow for

daylight penetration
 Natural lighting in building design

• Shopping mall in Hong Kong

• Skylight constructed at the atriu
m
• Artificial lighting + Natural lightin
g

APM
 Artificial Lighting –
Lighting efficacy of different sources

Ref: Lechner (1991)

Artificial lighting – Outdoor applications

Telok Blangah Hill Park, Singapore

 Artificial lighting – Outdoor applications
Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver, Canada

http://www.archidir.com/architecture/pedestrian-pathway-architecture-line-of-work-by-jill-anholt/
Artificial Lighting – Penetrating fro
m indoor to outdoor
Berlin Parliament House
Artificial Lighting – indoor applications

• Artificial lighting as a light source

• Use different types of light to create mood
Artificial Lighting – indoor applications

Morgan Library and Museum, New York

Artificial Lighting – indoor applications
Open plan office
Advantages and Disadvantages of
using natural lighting?

Any example of use of natural

lighting in PolyU?
Ways to better living in buildings

• Thermal Comfort
– Keep us feel comfortable when in s
ummer or winter
– Can be achieved by
• Natural ventilation
• Air-conditioning system
 Heat Loss and gain of humans

Ref: Lechner (1991)

 What is Thermal Comfort?
• That condition of mind which expresses satisfa
ction with the thermal environment
• Subjective experience
Factors affecting Thermal Comfort
• Air Temperature
• Air Velocity
• Humidity
• Radiant Temperature
• Clothing
• Metabolic Rate – Human activity
Factors affecting Thermal Comfort
• Mean radiant temperature
– The radiant temperature of a point in space
Factors affecting Thermal Comfort
• CLO Value
– Naked: Clo value =0
– Business Suite: Clo value =1
– Can be added from individual clothings

http://www.blowtex-educair.it/DOWNLOADS/thermal%20Comfort.htm
Factors affecting Thermal Comfort
0.8 MET

• MET Value
– Measured by metabolism
– Determined by
different activities
4.0 MET
1 MET

6.5 MET
2.5 MET
8 MET
 Met Value Table
Metabolic rates [M]
Activity W/m2 Met
Reclining 46 0.80
Seated relaxed 58 1.00
Clock and watch repairer 65 1.10
Standing relaxed 70 1.20
Sedentary activity (office, dwelling, school, laboratory) 70 1.20
Car driving 80 1.40
Graphic profession - Book Binder 85 1.50
Standing, light activity(shopping,laboratory,light industry) 93 1.60
Teacher 95 1.60
Domestic work -shaving, washing and dressing 100 1.70
Walking on the level, 2 km/h 110 1.90
Standing, medium activity (shop assistant, domestic work) 116 2.00
Building industry -Brick laying (Block of 15.3 kg) 125 2.20
Washing dishes standing 145 2.50
Domestic work -raking leaves on the lawn 170 2.90
Domestic work -washing by hand and ironing (120-220 W/m2) 170 2.90
Iron and steel -ramming the mould with a pneumatic hammer 175 3.00
Building industry -forming the mould 180 3.00
Walking on the level, 5 km/h 200 3.40
Forestry -cutting across the grain with a one-man power saw 205 3.50
Agriculture -Ploughing with a team of horses 235 4.00
Sports -Ice skating, 18 km/h 360 6.20
Agriculture -digging with a spade (24 lifts/min.) 380 6.50
Sports -Skiing on level, good snow, 9 km/h 405 7.00
Forestry -working with an axe (weight 2 kg. 33 blows/min.) 500 8.60
Ref:http://www.blowtex-educair.it/DOWNLOADS/thermal%20Comfort.htm
Sports -Running, 15 km/h 550 9.50
 Comfort Zone

Ref: Lechner (1991)

 Thermal Control Strategies

• Passive Solar Heating

• Passive Cooling (natural ventilation /
solar shading)
• HVAC (Heating, cooling and air-
conditioning) systems
 Passive Solar Heating
• Direct Gain System

mnre.gov.in/booklets/solar-energy/ch3.pdf
 Passive Solar Heating
• Solarium

mnre.gov.in/booklets/solar-energy/ch3.pdf
 Passive Solar Heating
• Trombe Wall (Different Winter & Summer Mode)

mnre.gov.in/booklets/solar-energy/ch3.pdf
Wind Tower
Induced Ventilation
 Solar Heating/Shading

Sun radiation can heat up the interior by radiation.

A careful shading design can help regulating thermal comfort

inside an indoor space in winter and summer.
Passive Solar Heating – Solar Hemicycle,
Middleton, Wisconsin

• Southern wall ha
s two-storey gla
ss windows to ma
ximize solar gai
n
• Overhang on the
southern façade
to provide shade
from high level
summer sun
Solar Protection – King Fahad National Li
brary, Rlad, Saudi Arabia
Solar Protection – King Fahad National Li
brary, Rlad, Saudi Arabia

• Solar protection
and sun location
More Interesting buildin
gs and building services
for better environment
Seattle Public Library, Seattle, Washington, US
 Seattle Public Library, Seattle, Washington, US
• Half of the glass used
in the curtain wall is
triple-glazed with an
aluminium expanded
metal mesh
sandwiched between
two panes to reduce
heat gain

• Other sustainable features include: bicycle parking spaces, water-

efficient drip irrigation system, recycle area and monitoring system
automatically adjusted for thermal comfort.
Arab World Institute, France

• Metallic diaphragms of
various dimensions
installed in the south
facing façade

• The diaphragms operate

like a camera lens to
control the sun’s
penetration in the interior
of the building
Arab World Institute, France
Dusseldorf City Gate, Germany

• Double-skin façade for heat

insulation
• Spaces need ventilation
 Nine Earth Houses, Dietikon, Switzerland

Noise control, lighting, ventilation and thermal control?

Nine Houses, Dietikon, Switzerland
• Daytime areas are situated towards the south to gain heat
• All the bathrooms get natural light through rooftop windows
 
Another Earth House in Arni, Switzerland
Integration of building services into
architectural design – Centre Pompidou, Paris
Example of Wing Wall for natural
ventilation
Spaces with specialized functions (Combin
ed noise, lighting and thermal Control thr
ough building services)
• Stadium/ Concert Hall/ Lecture Theatre
• Railway station concourses and platfor
ms
• Many others……..
• Any example from you?
 Stadium

http://www.grandstadeol.com/developpemen-durable/environnement/
 Stadium
• Reduce noise exposure to neighborhood

Olympique Lyonnais, Lyon, France

http://www.grandstadeol.com/developpemen-durable/environnement/
 Classic Concert Hall

Wiener Musikverein,
Vienna, Austria

Acoustics – prime importance, lighting is

also important for the grand outlook. HVAC
to provide thermal comfort and ventilation
for audience to enjoy musical performance.
Modern Concert Hall

The Sage Gateshead, UK

 Local Performance Hall

Jockey Club Auditorium, PolyU

 Local Concert Hall

Kwai Tsing Theatre

 Railway platforms/ station concou
rses

Sound (through loudspeakers for speech

communication & broadcasting), lighting
(illumination), temperature & RH (by air
conditioning and ventilation system)
Environmental Control for
Better Living ?
Yes, we can!
And together we do it.
More in Week 7