Reflecting on Impacts of COVID19 on Sustainable Buildings and Cities

Abstract

The pandemics of COVID19 has disrupted all aspects of our lives in many ways since it was first detected in the early part of the year 2020; personal and professional lives were impacts, work places, learning environments, businesses, commerce, and industry. This complex situation that places buildings at the center of the human activity raises many questions about our state of knowledge and technology to face these extraordinary challenges presented by a global pandemics. To reflect on these complex questions and with the intention of forging a forward agenda for our scientific and engineering community, a group of colleagues organized an initial open conversation at the ASME 2020 Energy Sustainability Conference, held virtually for first time, this past month of June 2020 to reflect on specific and broad topics that included: a) impacts of COVID19 in mechanical systems for indoor environments, b) the role of COVID19 in outdoor environments, c) how CVOID19 has impacted energy demands in buildings with a global perspective, and d) what maybe the role of COVID19 in social equity. Short summaries of these reflections are given in this Editorial Note.

Study of natural ventilation and daylight in a multi-storey residential building to address the problems of COVID-19

“…The Covid-19 pandemic and quarantine have caused architects to reconsider the planning and constructing of residential buildings in terms of area and design of spaces inside the future home. Also, to become sustainable residential buildings that depend on natural ventilation, good natural lighting, and open green spaces [17] , [26] . some studies have shown how mental and physical health is related to green open spaces and how important they are.…”