Housing Stock Optimisations

Tatsuhiro Yamamoto — 2025-07-18

In Japan, aging housing complexes are considered a key component of the national housing stock. However, renovation projects often prioritize initial costs over long-term energy performance. Although retrofitting insulation effectively reduces energy consumption, budget constraints and competing priorities, such as architectural improvements and airtightness measures, limit its adoption. Few academic studies have quantified the economic and energy-saving impacts of retrofitting existing apartment buildings. This study uses TRNSYS simulations to evaluate retrofitting scenarios for a typical aging apartment complex. The analysis focuses on lifecycle costs and annual heating and cooling loads. Results indicate that ceiling insulation yields the largest reduction in heat load. The numerical data generated by this research offer practical guidelines for design practitioners evaluating retrofit options. A cost breakdown based on material and labor estimates is provided to demonstrate the trade-off between investment and energy savings. Sensitivity analyses assess the robustness of the findings when insulation thickness and energy prices vary. This study provides a database of thermal performance metrics for existing buildings to support decision-making in renovation projects. The implications include optimized retrofit strategies that balance initial costs and energy efficiency, thereby promoting the sustainable management of aging housing stock. The results serve as a reference for architects, engineers, and policymakers involved in building energy retrofits. By quantifying the relationship between insulation measures and thermal load, the database helps planners mitigate risks such as indoor thermal discomfort and cold-related health hazards in older residences.

The Role of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Orthodox Monastery in Manyava in the Formation of Ecological Values

Lesya Chen — 2025-07-25

The article uses the example of the ascetic Orthodox monastery ensemble of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in the village of Manyava, Bogorodchansky district, Ivano-Frankivsk region, to demonstrate its unique connection with the natural landscape and determine the role of monastic life in promoting environmental protection and its biodiversity. The aim of the article is to reveal the architectural and spatial characteristics of the monastery and highlight the specific features of monastic ecology. The methodology is based on the analysis of the main architectural and natural elements that allow us to understand the organization of the monastery environment and its inextricable connection with the surrounding landscape, which affects the formation of ecological values in Ukraine. The article outlines the stages of the monastery's development, from its foundation in the 13th century, its formation, a period of great prosperity, decline and destruction, to the revival of its activities since 1998. The study analyzes the architectural, spatial, and planning structure of the Monastery of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Manyava and shows its inextricable connection with the natural landscape. The work considers the Monastery of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross not only as a spiritual center, but also as a complex anthropogenic-natural system with clear ecological indicators.

Journal of Architectural Environment & Structural Engineering Research

Housing Stock Optimisations

The Role of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Orthodox Monastery in Manyava in the Formation of Ecological Values