Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Cleveland State University, 2022, Washkewicz College of Engineering

Building Energy Simulations (BES) are necessary for designing energy-efficient systems. Open-source simulation software developed by the Department of Energy (DOE), EnergyPlus (EP) provides Typical Meteorological Year (TMY) weather data that consists of a 15-year average. Two major concerns about this data are the inability to detect extreme conditions and limited data locations. There is a greater number of Microclimate (MC) stations that can be used for simulations, but it involves time-consuming data preparation to match the EP format. This study investigated the effects of Urban Heat Island (UHI) and the MC of Lake Erie. A comparison of the MC data to TMY data was performed by running heating and cooling calculations with each of the weather datasets in EP. UHI simulation for New York City Manhattan in July 2020 resulted in a 17.6% higher cooling demand than in the rural area, and 26.0% higher than the TMY data. Lake MC comparison found an almost 10.0% difference in July 2019' cooling demand between two stations located 20 miles apart. This research reassured that it is essential to include MC data in energy building design and found a way to eliminate the time-consuming aspect of it. With the help of Virtual Information Fabric Infrastructure (VIFI) MC data can be automatically prepared and converted to the correct format. Furthermore, a user-friendly portal that includes both TMY and MC weather is being developed to make accurate energy simulations highly accessible.

Committee: Yongxin Tao (Advisor); Wei Zhang (Committee Member); Maryam Younessi Sinaki (Committee Member) Subjects: Engineering; Mechanical Engineering

Doctor of Education (EdD), Ohio University, 2021, Educational Administration (Education)

The study explores capacity-building programs in The Gambia with the aim to identify leadership approaches, policies, organizational characteristics found potentially effective for the Sustainable Development Goals. Using the Appreciative Inquiry 5D Model, the study focused on what works best for capacity-building in The Gambia, thus building on past studies which exclusively used a deficit approach to examine capacitybuilding. The study supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2015-2030 by exploring the underlying factors that could contribute attainment of these goals in The Gambia. The study used a qualitative case study approach focusing on ten leaders of public institutions in The Gambia. The Theory of Action and Dominated Theory (theoretical framework) and the Appreciative Inquiry's 5D Model (analytical framework) were used to guide the methodological design and analysis of study data. Findings revealed The Gambia's public service has the institutional structures, policies, plans, and approaches needed for capacity-building to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and could share these best practices within The Gambia and among developing countries.

Committee: Emmanuel Jean-Francois DR (Committee Chair); Dwan Robinson DR (Committee Member); Charles Lowery DR (Committee Member); Marsha Lewis DR (Committee Member) Subjects: African Studies; Comparative; Education Policy; Educational Leadership; Public Administration; Sustainability

MARCH, University of Cincinnati, 2020, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning: Architecture

How can we make skyscrapers environmentally friendly? And what novels will eco architecture bring us in the future? The growing public concerns and awareness of environmental and social problems related to contemporary architecture and industry have led many architects, business leaders, and communities to adopt sustainable practices that remain in effect over the long term. Such strategies aim for `green design', the notion of `eco-footprint', in reducing resource consumption, energy use, pollution, and waste. As a discretion to a new approach to green architecture, an eco-effective regenerative building would not only restore and improve the environment by using renewable sources to generate energy but would also promote the health and well-being of occupants by adaptive design. On the one hand, plant materials such as trees, shrubs, and greenery in the design process spur the potential of architectural strategies that activate sustainable environments and can increase the ecological resilience of the community. Some might argue that the overtly green design is too bland and unadventurous. It can be equally critical to acknowledge that `green design' is `green dressing'. However, the bottom line implies that architects who are willing to challenge the experiential paradigm often lead potential for a shift to genuine green opportunism. For the optimistic cause of architectural sustainability, this study focuses on environmentally progressive, eco-effective design solutions that support the high-rise building development of mixed-use density to provide necessary physical and technical support for sustainable architecture.

Committee: Michael McInturf M.Arch. (Committee Chair); Elizabeth Riorden M.Arch. (Committee Member) Subjects: Archaeology

MS, Kent State University, 2018, College of Architecture and Environmental Design

In the recent decade, using vegetation to cover the building envelope is considered as a sustainable construction practice. Green Wall Systems (GWS) are built with multiple layers which are cladded on the bare wall, using different construction materials and a variety of plants, depending on the geographical locations and climatic conditions. However, the complex cladding devices, built using many processed materials, are reported to have high Embodied Energy (EE) and Embodied Carbon (EC), which questions the sustainability of the GWS. Hence, the research focuses on eliminating the multiple layers by designing a new innovative Integrated Green Wall System (IGWS) to reduce the environmental burden associated with GWS. Further, to improve the sustainability of IGWS, the recycling and reuse potential of millions of cubic yards of sediments, dredged to maintain the economic viability of the great lakes, is investigated by fabricating eco-friendly Dredged Material - Cement Bricks (DMCB). Here, the DMCB is formulated using different experimental mixture designs that vary in the cement content (8%, 10% and 12% by weight) and compacted with different compaction pressures (0Mpa, 2Mpa and 4Mpa). Then, the mechanical properties of the DMCB are investigated by performing a compression strength test, water absorption test and freeze-thaw test as specified by ASTM standards. The promising test results demonstrated that a brick with high performance could be produced using the dredge material. Later, a prototype of IGWS is proposed using DMCB. In addition, life cycle assessment performed to evaluate the environmental impacts of IGWS made of DMCB demonstrated 56% and 72.62% reductions in environmental burden profile in comparison with conventional indirect GWS and modular GWS respectively. Moreover, a reduction in environmental profile of 62.67% and 38.99% was observed, when the bare wall (made of clay bricks) in the tradition indirect and modular GWS was replaced with DMCB.

Committee: Rui Liu Dr. (Advisor); Reid Coffman Dr. (Advisor); Adil Sharag-Eldin Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: Architectural; Architecture; Conservation; Design; Ecology; Energy; Landscape Architecture; Materials Science; Sustainability; Urban Planning

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, 2017, Biology

The appreciation for nature as inspiration for design has happened throughout human history. However, it wasn't until the late 1990s that biomimicry was put forward as a discipline providing a framework to more actively and consciously use nature's time-tested and refined strategies to inform innovative products, services and systems. The implementation of biomimicry as a design tool to solve real-life, time-sensitive challenges inherently requires an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach. Biological knowledge needs to be made available, either by new research or by extracting it from existing literature. This then needs to be abstracted into design principles to be used to inform the creation of new designs. Ultimately this design needs to be commercialized by organizations that remain successful under rapidly changing conditions. In this PhD work I explored the implications of implementing biomimicry thinking throughout this entire process, which included the scientific, engineering, design and business world. It is through experiential and observational learning that people are trained to design, support, and lead biomimicry endeavors. By sharing my experiences, challenges, concerns and research results I am hoping to boost the further development of biomimicry as a tool for technological and social innovation, as well as promote the potential of biomimicry to facilitate a sustainability transition and therefore increase its prominent implementation for solving real-life, time-sensitive challenges. The growing interest and successful application of biomimicry can ultimately result not only in more environmentally conscious technologies, but also make organizations themselves nature-aligned.

Committee: Peter Niewiarowski (Advisor); Matthew Shawkey (Advisor); Dayna Baumeister (Committee Member); Pravin Bhiwapurkar (Committee Member); Ali Dhinojwala (Committee Member); Karim Alamgir (Committee Member) Subjects: Architecture; Biophysics; Environmental Engineering; Sustainability

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2014, Organizational Behavior

This study explores peace-building in identity-based conflict within a business setting, adding to the body of knowledge by seeking to understand the relationship between business and positive social development. Specific emphasis is placed on understanding the aspects of business that foster cooperation among identity groups in conflict. Addressing individual needs as well as creating a safe space for communication and a shared workplace identity that supersedes that of the conflicting identities are required for the peace-building process. This is done by providing economic incentives for rivals to join the company and maintaining organizational norms geared toward mutual understanding, affirming that business can be used for peace-building by addressing both economic and identity issues associated with violent conflicts. Utilizing an Appreciative Inquiry influenced methodology; this study focuses on a successful case study in order to learn how this has been achieved and how this can be applied elsewhere. The final outcome is a generalizable model, with some noted limitations, of how corporations can promote peace in identity-based conflicts.

Committee: Chris Laszlo Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Ron Fry Ph.D. (Committee Member); David Cooperrider Ph.D. (Committee Member); Mark Chupp Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Alternative Dispute Resolution; Business Administration; Organizational Behavior; Peace Studies; Sustainability

MS, University of Cincinnati, 2008, Engineering : Civil Engineering

One of the ongoing challenges in the quest to make the built environment more sustainable is to identify and mitigate environmental impacts in all phases of buildings, from design phase, to construction, to Building Use/Maintenance and finally end of life phases. In this study a comparison of life cycle environmental burdens of constructing Composite Metal Deck and Hollow Core floor systems for commercial buildings by using a Hybrid Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach is carried out. The study covers material extraction (cradle-to-gate) and construction (gate-to-gate) phases and includes a detailed assessment of both direct and supply chain impacts. A comprehensive set of results is obtained from the study. These results are presented in several categories for comparative assessment - energy use, Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), PM10 and VOC emissions. Other categories include solid waste and liquid emissions. The overall conclusion from this study can be summarized as follows:(1)Total environmental burdens from Composite Metal Deck floor are higher than Hollow Core floor for all emissions considered. The environmental burdens from Composite Metal Deck floor range from 8% higher for SO2 to 32% higher for HC; (2) Hollow Core floor impacts in the Construction phase are higher compared to Composite Metal Deck floor; (3) Composite Metal Deck floor impacts are higher than Hollow Core floor in the Material extraction and Production phase.

Committee: Cynthia Tsao PhD (Committee Chair); Jeffrey Molavi PhD (Committee Member); Mingming Lu PhD (Committee Member); Margaret Kupferle PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Environmental Engineering

MCP, University of Cincinnati, 2007, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning : Community Planning

Green building is a term used to define smart building techniques that when applied in a holistic approach conserves natural resources, uses energy wisely, improves indoor air quality and human health through the use of smarter building materials, reduces the impact of the built environment on the natural environment, and increases opportunities available for future generations. The green building movement has arisen out of the realization that as a global society we need to rethink the way we build our cities, towns and houses. This thesis documents constraints facing green building in Hamilton County's housing market. The research study sets out to establish the constraints through interviews with participants from four key building industry stakeholder groups. The four groups include: financial lenders, city/county officials, developers/home builders, and professionals (architects). As part of this analysis these constraints are also compared to green building industry challenges on a national level.

Committee: Carla Chifos (Advisor) Subjects: Architecture

MARCH, University of Cincinnati, 2004, Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning: Architecture (Master of)

The aim of this thesis is to gain an understanding of how a building, regardless of its location, can stop and even begin to reverse trends in building that contribute to the devastation of natural cycles that give life to the earth. The design project associated with this thesis is purposefully placed at a site that poses great difficulty to creating what will be defined as a "healthy building:" Times Square, New York. Additionally, the program of the design project will be a facility dedicated to human health. With a large program and small site the design will inevitably be a "skyscraper." The project must reconcile the issues involved in designing a skyscraper, the issues involved in designing in New York and Times Square and the building must respond to the harmful ecological trends that buildings have caused since the beginning of the industrial revolution.

Committee: Gordon Simmons (Advisor) Subjects:

MCP, University of Cincinnati, 2003, Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning : Community Planning

A future with a diminishing supply of nonrenewable resources is raising concerns in every aspect of our lives. The phrase ‘sustainable' or ‘green' development is being used to describe a wide variety of issues that take these concerns into consideration during the planning, design, and implementation process. In an effort to increase the number of green buildings developed throughout the country the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) established the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Guidelines. The guidelines are a framework which assists members of a development team to quantify whether or not a project is in fact ‘green' or ‘sustainable'. The guidelines provide a step by step approach within several categories associated with green development. The goals of this paper will be to explore how the guidelines have already been implemented on a city level in an effort to encourage the development of green buildings. Along with an understanding of how the guidelines have been used to promote green development, there will be a discussion of what the potential benefits of green development would be if implemented on a county level and why such practices have not already occurred.

Committee: Samuel Sherrill (Advisor) Subjects: Architecture

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2012, Mechanical Engineering

This thesis explores the efficiency and performance of residential HVAC systems applied to new high performance buildings which meet the standards of the Passivhaus movement. Chapter 1 recounts the need for energy efficiency as well as the requirements for a Passivhaus. Furthermore, it reviews available building simulation techniques as well as state of the art desiccant dehumidification systems. Chapter 2 details the dynamic simulation in the climate of Columbus, Ohio of The Ohio State University's entry into the 2011 Solar Decathlon competition. This portion of the study explores the use of a conventional vapor compression conditioning system as well as the effects of occupant behavior on the parameters affecting comfort within the structure. It adds to the current literature on the subject by presenting a simulation in a mixed climate where cooling and dehumidification are traditionally required. Furthermore it adopts a simulation tool which acts on time scales less than one hour. It is concluded that the house, while energy efficient, has difficultly controlling moisture levels. In the summer season it is too humid and in the winter it is too dry. Chapter 3 seeks to address these issues through the use and modeling of a new desiccant assisted heat pump designed at Ohio State. Chapter 3 concludes that the new system called HAWC (Hybrid Air/Water Conditioner) is capable of completely eliminating high humidity events in the summer time while still saving energy as compared to a traditional HVAC system. Chapter 4 summarizes the document and lists future work.  

Committee: Mark Walter Dr. (Committee Chair); Gary Kinzel Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: Mechanical Engineering

Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 2006, Environmental Studies (Arts and Sciences)

This thesis aims to evaluate the lighting efficiency of three Ohio University campus buildings. The primary research question is: What are the short- versus long-term costs and benefits to Ohio University of renovating the lighting systems of these older buildings? The research was conducted as a case study with examination of two subquestions: What types of lighting fixtures are currently being used and how efficient are they? How efficient can proposed lighting fixtures be? Results indicate that the cost of installing more energy-efficient lighting fixtures can be quickly recaptured in older buildings. With replacing the present lighting fixtures Ohio University would pay approximately 2.5 times less than it pays currently for the lighting utilities cost of the case study buildings. With these energy savings it would take 3 to 4 years to reclaim the money spent for reinstallation of the energy-efficient lighting fixtures.

Committee: Dorothy Sack (Advisor) Subjects: Environmental Sciences