China
Africa
Explore chapters and articles related to this topic
Why Can’t a Building Think Like a Car? Information and Control Systems Opportunities in New Buildings
Published in Barney L. Capehart, Lynne C. Capehart, Paul J. Allen, David C. Green, Web Based Energy Information and Control Systems:, 2021
Barney L. Capehart, Lynne C. Capehart
The motivation of the designers and the manufacturers of cars is frequently different from that of people who design and build buildings. Car manufacturers build a car to attract a buyer; they add bells and whistles to make their car different. They encourage innovation and thinking outside the box. Architects and construction companies are building a box, so their thinking often stays in the box. They may work on the exterior design; they may make the interior appearance pleasing; but they do not think very hard about what goes on inside the box, and they don’t consider the needs of the individuals living and working in the box. A car designer should consider safety when drawing up plans for a new car; beyond putting in emergency exits and sprinkler systems, a building designer may not think about how to make the building safer because that is not part of the job. Among the questions that building designers should be asking are “How can this building be made more comfortable, safer, and more user-friendly?” “How can occupants interact with this building to increase their comfort and safety levels?” “How can we make this a building of the future?” With a little imagination and an increased use of information and controls technology, building designers can make significant changes in the comfort level of the occupants.
Why Can’t a Building Think Like a Car? Information and Control Systems Opportunities in New Buildings
Published in Barney L. Capehart, Timothy Middelkoop, Paul J. Allen, David C. Green, Handbook of Web Based Energy Information and Control Systems, 2020
Barney L. Capehart, Lynne C. Capehart
The motivation of the designers and the manufacturers of cars is frequently different from that of people who design and build buildings. Car manufacturers build a car to attract a buyer; they add bells and whistles to make their car different. They encourage innovation and thinking outside the box. Architects and construction companies are building a box, so their thinking often stays in the box. They may work on the exterior design; they may make the interior appearance pleasing; but they do not think very hard about what goes on inside the box, and they don’t consider the needs of the individuals living and working in the box. A car designer should consider safety when drawing up plans for a new car; beyond putting in emergency exits and sprinkler systems, a building designer may not think about how to make the building safer because that is not part of the job. Among the questions that building designers should be asking are “How can this building be made more comfortable, safer, and more user-friendly?” “How can occupants interact with this building to increase their comfort and safety levels?” “How can we make this a building of the future?” With a little imagination and an increased use of information and controls technology, building designers can make significant changes in the comfort level of the occupants.
Sustainability
Published in Louis Theodore, R. Ryan Dupont, Water Resource Management Issues, 2019
Louis Theodore, R. Ryan Dupont
Finally, responsible businesses can begin moving toward sustainability by taking seven “simple” steps: Foster a company culture of sustainability.Initiate voluntary performance improvements.Apply eco-efficiency (material, water and energy conservation, toxic use reduction, recycling, etc.) concepts.Grasp opportunities for sustainable business growth.Invest in creativity, innovation, and technology for the future.Reward employee commitment and action.Encourage thinking “outside the box.”
Digitisation, sustainability, and disruption – promoting a more balanced debate on risk in the geotechnical community
Published in Georisk: Assessment and Management of Risk for Engineered Systems and Geohazards, 2020
Sukumar Pathmanandavel, Charles John MacRobert
Whilst the practice of geotechnical engineering is unique to everyone, established practice and reward systems can lead to dominant ways of thinking and acting which suppress alternate approaches. To continue in our role of solving society’s ground problems will require thinking “outside-the-box”. We now consider four ways in which geotechnical engineers can visibly increase and encourage the diversity of thinking and acting required to achieve this (Figure 3). “Analytical” and to an extent “innovation” are features of current practice, however to maintain our position “public face” and “connector” will need to receive greater prominence.