1st Edition
Net-Zero and Positive Energy Communities
Best Practice Guidance Based on the ZERO-PLUS Project Experience
Edited By Shabtai Isaac, Isaac Meir, Gloria Pignatta
Copyright 2024
Net-Zero and Positive Energy Communities
Best Practice Guidance Based on the ZERO-PLUS Project Experience
Edited By Shabtai Isaac, Isaac Meir, Gloria Pignatta
Copyright 2024
This book presents a methodology for the design, construction, monitoring, optimization, and post-occupancy evaluation of net-zero and positive-energy communities based on the experiences gained in the EU Horizon 2020 ZERO-PLUS project. It describes the steps, tools, and methods developed during the project, providing practical information for the energy and construction sector that will be of interest to students, engineers, architects, developers, and professionals working around high performance architecture and sustainable communities.
Through the ZERO-PLUS project, a consortium of 32 partners from eight countries, including academic institutions, technology providers, architects, and construction companies, designed four communities covering completely different geo-climatic regions, construction practices, and cultural backgrounds in Cyprus, Italy, France, and the UK. The communities were designed, optimized, constructed, monitored, handed over to tenants, post-occupancy evaluated, and troubleshooted through a system of continuous collaboration and data acquisition. This book presents these case studies and shows how the project targets of reducing electricity consumption below 20 kWh/m2/y, increasing electricity production from Renewable Energy Systems to over 50 kWh/m2/y, and at cheaper costs when compared to current zero-energy buildings were reached and surpassed. These cases demonstrate that a holistic and interactive approach to design and construction can bring communities a high standard of sustainability.
The key features of the book include:
Through the ZERO-PLUS project, a consortium of 32 partners from eight countries, including academic institutions, technology providers, architects, and construction companies, designed four communities covering completely different geo-climatic regions, construction practices, and cultural backgrounds in Cyprus, Italy, France, and the UK. The communities were designed, optimized, constructed, monitored, handed over to tenants, post-occupancy evaluated, and troubleshooted through a system of continuous collaboration and data acquisition. This book presents these case studies and shows how the project targets of reducing electricity consumption below 20 kWh/m2/y, increasing electricity production from Renewable Energy Systems to over 50 kWh/m2/y, and at cheaper costs when compared to current zero-energy buildings were reached and surpassed. These cases demonstrate that a holistic and interactive approach to design and construction can bring communities a high standard of sustainability.
The key features of the book include:
- Practical guidance drawn from the interdisciplinary, international, and remote cooperation between experts from academia and industry across the construction sector
- A survey of the state-of-the-art on net-zero and positive-energy communities, including the experience and the lessons learned from previous projects and from the ZERO-PLUS project
- Descriptions of novel emerging renewable energy technologies, integrated into real case study communities to achieve the energy generation target of the communities
- A comprehensive set of approaches, tools, guidelines, best practices, challenges, and lessons learned from the five-year ZERO-PLUS project and the completion of four residential case studies to inform the reader of how to achieve affordable net-zero energy communities
- Four typologies of residential communities located in different climatic conditions are presented, touching on the critical aspects of the design, construction, monitoring, and occupancy phase
- A discussion of future trends for developing communities that are more liveable, accessible, and sustainable and which can comply with new energy policies in a way that is affordable for the owners and residents.
Crete - An abbreviated and selective history
Part II - From the Aug.4th Dictatorship to date
Part II - From the Aug.4th Dictatorship to date
Aug.6, 2023, 11:00-12:30 - Ben-Gurion Heritage Institute (in Hebrew)
Crete - An abbreviated and selective history
Part I - From King Minos to the Catastrophe
Part I - From King Minos to the Catastrophe
July 16, 2023, 11:00-12:30 - Ben-Gurion Heritage Institute (in Hebrew)
Thermal Comfort Course
June 2023 Semester Field Exercise
June 2023 Semester Field Exercise
Sick Building - The Silent Killer
Isaac A. Meir
Isaac A. Meir
Desert Architecture - Towards planning and design in times of environmental uncertainty
Isaac A. Meir
Isaac A. Meir
May 10
Welcome and Introduction to the Azrieli Summer Workshop 2023
May 11
Keynote Lecture | Dr. Gil Haklay, Israel Antiquities Authorities:
The Chalcolithic period in the southern Levant: The case of Ein Gedi
Ein Bokek
Ein Gedi (desert trekking)
On-site visit with Dr. Gil Haklay
Keynote Lecture followed by a discussion | Prof. Isaac (Sakis) Meir, Ben Gurion University in the Negev: Desert Architecture - Towards planning and design in times of environmental uncertainty
May 12
Masada
Entrance to the site and trekking (Snake Route) - Sunrise
2023 Charrette Day 1
Keynote Lecture followed by a discussion | PhD candidate Ofer Asaf, Technion: Soils-Trees-Robots | Granular-based robotic fabrication of bioclimatic envelopes
May 13
Launching of the 2023 Charrette Day 2
Final Presentation followed by a discussion | Pecha Kucha
n-Groups - n-visions - n-Statements
May 14
Check out and bus departure of the Carleton University, McGill University and Tel Aviv University groups
Welcome and Introduction to the Azrieli Summer Workshop 2023
May 11
Keynote Lecture | Dr. Gil Haklay, Israel Antiquities Authorities:
The Chalcolithic period in the southern Levant: The case of Ein Gedi
Ein Bokek
Ein Gedi (desert trekking)
On-site visit with Dr. Gil Haklay
Keynote Lecture followed by a discussion | Prof. Isaac (Sakis) Meir, Ben Gurion University in the Negev: Desert Architecture - Towards planning and design in times of environmental uncertainty
May 12
Masada
Entrance to the site and trekking (Snake Route) - Sunrise
2023 Charrette Day 1
Keynote Lecture followed by a discussion | PhD candidate Ofer Asaf, Technion: Soils-Trees-Robots | Granular-based robotic fabrication of bioclimatic envelopes
May 13
Launching of the 2023 Charrette Day 2
Final Presentation followed by a discussion | Pecha Kucha
n-Groups - n-visions - n-Statements
May 14
Check out and bus departure of the Carleton University, McGill University and Tel Aviv University groups
Prof. Isaac Meir delivered one of the four keynotes at the Sustainable Built Environment (SBE23) international conference in Thessaloniki Greece recently.
"We live in times of climatic uncertainty, extremes and exacerbation, which are becoming the norm. Floods, heatwaves, droughts alongside sudden downpours of cataclysmic magnitude, desertification, dust and sandstorms, extreme cold events keep getting even more extreme.
"Such processes carry with them a rising price tag in disaster-related damages, as well as in rising morbidity and mortality, not least as they are accompanied by growing population and rising urbanization globally. This calls for urgent action in planning and design to ensure mitigation of global warming and the Urban Heat Island (UHI), to contain floods, to filter dust and sandstorms, often originating thousands of kilometers away from the populations affected.
"We need to introduce public health and community resilience in the planning processes and ensure that buildings and adjacent open spaces regain their original status as “shelters” and are designed for survivability. Therefore, we need to intervene in urban and regional planning as well as building design, electricity production from Renewable Energy Sources (RES) and its distribution through smart systems and grids. We also need to build databases and maps identifying vulnerable areas and population risk groups.
"Inaction will contribute to the rise of discomfort, damage, morbidity and mortality, and we – planners, architects and engineers, alongside decision makers – will carry the responsibility," he warned.
https://www.facebook.com/BenGurionUniversity/
"We live in times of climatic uncertainty, extremes and exacerbation, which are becoming the norm. Floods, heatwaves, droughts alongside sudden downpours of cataclysmic magnitude, desertification, dust and sandstorms, extreme cold events keep getting even more extreme.
"Such processes carry with them a rising price tag in disaster-related damages, as well as in rising morbidity and mortality, not least as they are accompanied by growing population and rising urbanization globally. This calls for urgent action in planning and design to ensure mitigation of global warming and the Urban Heat Island (UHI), to contain floods, to filter dust and sandstorms, often originating thousands of kilometers away from the populations affected.
"We need to introduce public health and community resilience in the planning processes and ensure that buildings and adjacent open spaces regain their original status as “shelters” and are designed for survivability. Therefore, we need to intervene in urban and regional planning as well as building design, electricity production from Renewable Energy Sources (RES) and its distribution through smart systems and grids. We also need to build databases and maps identifying vulnerable areas and population risk groups.
"Inaction will contribute to the rise of discomfort, damage, morbidity and mortality, and we – planners, architects and engineers, alongside decision makers – will carry the responsibility," he warned.
https://www.facebook.com/BenGurionUniversity/
POE of a lab and office university building. An exercise with Civil & Environmental Engineering undergraduate and research students (January 2023).
Presentation on Building, lighting, window. On contemporary construction and sustainability challenges. AEAI – The Association of Engineers, Architects and Graduates in Technological Sciences in Israel, The Annual Conference of the Israel Lighting Association. Ramat Gan (Dec.20, 2022).
The BGU Center for Energy & Sustainability organized two thematic sessions -
Session 1: The Built Environment
Session 2: Materials
Session 1 was recorded and the presentations by Prof. Ursula Eiker (Concordia U, Canad), Prof. Susan Roaf (Heriot-Watt U, UK), Prof. David Pearlmutter (BGU), Prof. Denia Kolokotsa (Technical U of Crete), and Prof. Isaac A. Meir (BGU) can be watched here.
Session 1: The Built Environment
Session 2: Materials
Session 1 was recorded and the presentations by Prof. Ursula Eiker (Concordia U, Canad), Prof. Susan Roaf (Heriot-Watt U, UK), Prof. David Pearlmutter (BGU), Prof. Denia Kolokotsa (Technical U of Crete), and Prof. Isaac A. Meir (BGU) can be watched here.
Bi-National Seminar on Bio-Aggregates and Natural Building Materials
One-day online seminar - June 8, 2022
One-day online seminar - June 8, 2022
Keynote: Prof. Dr. Ildiko Merta, Technical University of Vienna
Confirmed speakers (in alphabetical order):
Mr. Alex Cicelsky, BGU (PhD Candidate)
Arch. Zeta Chrysafaki, southernarchitects.gr
Arch. Anna Daskalaki, TUC
Dr. Yaakov Florentin, BGU
Dr. Kostas Gobakis, TUC
Dr. Rotem Haik, BGU
Dr. Maria Mandalaki, TUC
Dr. Afroditi Fotiou, TUC
Mr. Shahar Oannou, BGU
Mr. Achiya Livne, BGU (PhD Candidate)
Prof. Noni-Pagona Maravelaki, TUC
Prof. Isaac A. Meir, BGU
Prof. David Pearlmutter, BGU
Mr. Manos Ximeris, Minoeco, Greece
Confirmed speakers (in alphabetical order):
Mr. Alex Cicelsky, BGU (PhD Candidate)
Arch. Zeta Chrysafaki, southernarchitects.gr
Arch. Anna Daskalaki, TUC
Dr. Yaakov Florentin, BGU
Dr. Kostas Gobakis, TUC
Dr. Rotem Haik, BGU
Dr. Maria Mandalaki, TUC
Dr. Afroditi Fotiou, TUC
Mr. Shahar Oannou, BGU
Mr. Achiya Livne, BGU (PhD Candidate)
Prof. Noni-Pagona Maravelaki, TUC
Prof. Isaac A. Meir, BGU
Prof. David Pearlmutter, BGU
Mr. Manos Ximeris, Minoeco, Greece
Buildings account for nearly 50% of the overall energy used in OECD countries. 40% are Operational Energy (OE), the energy used to heat, cool and light buildings, and operate their mechanical, electrical and electronic systems. Another 10%, called Embodied Energy (EE), are invested in the materials, from extraction of raw materials and their processing into building materials, their transportation and the construction of the buildings.
Among other attempts to lower this vast amount of energy, efforts have been invested in the upgrade and use of natural low EE materials, some of them used in the past (e.g., clays, adobe, rammed earth, light straw-clay), others developed in recent years (e.g., hempcrete and mycelium). When appropriately used, such materials can also lower the OE of the buildings, by absorbing and releasing heat and humidity, thus creating a healthier indoor environment.
This seminar, jointly organized by the Technical University of Crete (TUC), Greece, and the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), Israel, will present and review critically research and pilot projects, breakthroughs and the potential embedded in such materials, alongside their limitations and constraints, many of them shared by the two countries.
Participation is free but registration in advance is needed for this meeting:
When: June 8, 2022 09:00 AM Athens Time
https://tuc-gr.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUkcO6rqjgqGdWyph6gJYDm96QUYlC4D3-6
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
We look forward to having you with us,
Prof. Denia Kolokotsa & Prof. Isaac A. Meir
Schedule
09:30-09:40 Opening remarks – Prof. Denia Kolokotsa (TUC), Prof. Isaac A. Meir (BGU)
09:40-10:00 Greetings:
10:30-12:00 Session I – Chairs: Prof. Denia Kolokotsa (TUC) & Prof. David Pearlmutter (BGU)
12:15-12:45 Break
12:45-14:15 Session II – Chairs: Prof. Alva Peled (BGU) & Prof. Noni-Pagona Maravelaki (TUC)
14:30 Closing remarks – Prof. Isaac A. Meir (BGU), Prof. Denia Kolokotsa (TUC)
Among other attempts to lower this vast amount of energy, efforts have been invested in the upgrade and use of natural low EE materials, some of them used in the past (e.g., clays, adobe, rammed earth, light straw-clay), others developed in recent years (e.g., hempcrete and mycelium). When appropriately used, such materials can also lower the OE of the buildings, by absorbing and releasing heat and humidity, thus creating a healthier indoor environment.
This seminar, jointly organized by the Technical University of Crete (TUC), Greece, and the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), Israel, will present and review critically research and pilot projects, breakthroughs and the potential embedded in such materials, alongside their limitations and constraints, many of them shared by the two countries.
Participation is free but registration in advance is needed for this meeting:
When: June 8, 2022 09:00 AM Athens Time
https://tuc-gr.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUkcO6rqjgqGdWyph6gJYDm96QUYlC4D3-6
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
We look forward to having you with us,
Prof. Denia Kolokotsa & Prof. Isaac A. Meir
Schedule
09:30-09:40 Opening remarks – Prof. Denia Kolokotsa (TUC), Prof. Isaac A. Meir (BGU)
09:40-10:00 Greetings:
- H.E. Mr. Yossi Amrani, Ambassador of Israel to the Hellenic Republic
- Mr. Nikolaos Kalogeris, Regional Vice Governor of Regional Unit of Chania
- Mr. Panagiotis Simandirakis, Mayor of Chania
10:30-12:00 Session I – Chairs: Prof. Denia Kolokotsa (TUC) & Prof. David Pearlmutter (BGU)
- David Pearlmutter, BGU – Envisioning a sustainable future with new biocomposite building materials.
- Anna Daskalaki & Maria Mandalaki, TUC – Building with earth. A normative review.
- Rotem Haik, BGU – From waste to resource. Hempcrete with alternative unfired binders as lime replacement.
- Kostas Gobakis, TUC – Development of smart cool materials for the built environment.
- Yaakov Florentin, BGU – Thermal performance and Life Cycle Energy and Carbon Analysis of a newly developed hemp-lime biocomposite building material.
- Zeta Chrysafaki, southernarchitect.gr – Problems and pathology in life cycle of buildings with natural materials – case studies.
12:15-12:45 Break
12:45-14:15 Session II – Chairs: Prof. Alva Peled (BGU) & Prof. Noni-Pagona Maravelaki (TUC)
- Noni-Pagona Maravelaki & Afroditi Fotiou, TUC – Clay admixtures for ecological plasters and colours.
- Manos Ximeris, Minoeco.com – Construction site from a builder’s point of view.
- Shahar Ouannou, BGU – Life cycle assessment of an innovative building material using biocomposite and rammed earth.
- Alex Cicelsky, BGU – Novel insulating construction blocks of agricultural waste (straw) and natural binders.
- Achiya Livne, BGU – Fungal mycelium biocomposites as a sustainable building material.
- Isaac A. Meir, BGU – Learning from the DAUP adobe experimental house. Is it the materials or the details that make the difference?
14:30 Closing remarks – Prof. Isaac A. Meir (BGU), Prof. Denia Kolokotsa (TUC)
"πηλΟίκο" α.μ.κ.ε.
Πρόγραμμα Κατάρτισης δια βίου μάθησης:
"Δόμηση με πηλό. Τεχνικές κατασκευής - Αειφόρος Σχεδιασμός.
6-22/5/2022
Πρόγραμμα Κατάρτισης δια βίου μάθησης:
"Δόμηση με πηλό. Τεχνικές κατασκευής - Αειφόρος Σχεδιασμός.
6-22/5/2022
20-5-2022, 9:00 πρωί, 3 ώρες
Δρακάκης Αν. - Μηχανολογικές εφαρμογές - ΚΕΝΑΚ, θερμομόνωση, πυρασφάλεια νομοθεσία.
Isaac A. Meir - Κτίριο – Kαταφύγειο – Άνεση.
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89267570401?pwd=cGxuTFRVWVFzVmlwWkZxQ3J2M3pnUT09
Meeting ID: 892 6757 0401
Passcode: 222347
Δρακάκης Αν. - Μηχανολογικές εφαρμογές - ΚΕΝΑΚ, θερμομόνωση, πυρασφάλεια νομοθεσία.
Isaac A. Meir - Κτίριο – Kαταφύγειο – Άνεση.
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89267570401?pwd=cGxuTFRVWVFzVmlwWkZxQ3J2M3pnUT09
Meeting ID: 892 6757 0401
Passcode: 222347
Φυσικά δομικά υλικά
Μια κριτική ανασκόπηση 40 χρόνων έρευνας στην έρημο του Ισραήλ
Μια κριτική ανασκόπηση 40 χρόνων έρευνας στην έρημο του Ισραήλ
Περίληψη
Τα κτίρια αντιπροσωπεύουν σχεδόν το 50% της συνολικής ενέργειας που χρησιμοποιείται στις χώρες του Οργανισμού Οικονομικής Συνεργασίας και Ανάπτυξης (ΟΟΣΑ - OECD). Το 40% είναι η Λειτουργική Ενέργεια (Operational Energy), η ενέργεια που χρησιμοποιείται για τη θέρμανση, ψύξη και φωτισμό των κτιρίων, καθώς και τη λειτουργία των μηχανικών, ηλεκτρικών και ηλεκτρονικών συστημάτων τους, ενώ το υπόλοιπο 10% επενδύεται στα υλικά, από την εξόρυξη πρώτων υλών και την επεξεργασία τους σε δομικά υλικά, τη μεταφορά τους και την κατασκευή των κτιρίων (Ενσωματωμένη ενέργεια - Embodied Energy).
Μεταξύ άλλων προσπαθειών μείωσης αυτής της τεράστιας ποσότητας ενέργειας, έχουν επενδυθεί προσπάθειες για αναβάθμιση και χρήση φυσικών υλικών, μερικά από τα οποία χρησιμοποιήθηκαν στο παρελθόν, ενώ άλλα αναπτύχθηκαν τα τελευταία χρόνια.
Αυτή η παρουσίαση θα εξετάσει κριτικά τα ερευνητικά και πιλοτικά προγράμματα που πραγματοποιήθηκαν τα τελευταία ~40 χρόνια στην ισραηλινή έρημο. Μεταξύ αυτών περιλαμβάνονται adobe, rammed earth, hempcrete, light straw-clay και άλλα. Θα παρουσιάσει τις δυνατότητες που ενσωματώνονται σε τέτοια υλικά παράλληλα με τους περιορισμούς τους.
Abstract
Buildings account for nearly 50% of the overall energy used in OECD countries. 40% are Operable Energy (OE), the energy used to heat and cool and light buildings and operate their mechanical, electrical and electronic systems, and the other 10% are Embodied Energy (EE), that which is invested in the materials, from extraction of raw materials and their processing into building materials, their transportation and the construction of the buildings.
Among other attempts of lowering this vast amount of energy, efforts have been invested in upgrade and use of natural materials, some of them used in the past, others developed in recent years.
This presentation will review critically the research and pilot projects undertaken over the past 40-odd years in the Israeli desert. It will include adobe, rammed earth, hempcrete, light straw-clay and other. It will present the potential embedded in such materials alongside their limitations.
Τα κτίρια αντιπροσωπεύουν σχεδόν το 50% της συνολικής ενέργειας που χρησιμοποιείται στις χώρες του Οργανισμού Οικονομικής Συνεργασίας και Ανάπτυξης (ΟΟΣΑ - OECD). Το 40% είναι η Λειτουργική Ενέργεια (Operational Energy), η ενέργεια που χρησιμοποιείται για τη θέρμανση, ψύξη και φωτισμό των κτιρίων, καθώς και τη λειτουργία των μηχανικών, ηλεκτρικών και ηλεκτρονικών συστημάτων τους, ενώ το υπόλοιπο 10% επενδύεται στα υλικά, από την εξόρυξη πρώτων υλών και την επεξεργασία τους σε δομικά υλικά, τη μεταφορά τους και την κατασκευή των κτιρίων (Ενσωματωμένη ενέργεια - Embodied Energy).
Μεταξύ άλλων προσπαθειών μείωσης αυτής της τεράστιας ποσότητας ενέργειας, έχουν επενδυθεί προσπάθειες για αναβάθμιση και χρήση φυσικών υλικών, μερικά από τα οποία χρησιμοποιήθηκαν στο παρελθόν, ενώ άλλα αναπτύχθηκαν τα τελευταία χρόνια.
Αυτή η παρουσίαση θα εξετάσει κριτικά τα ερευνητικά και πιλοτικά προγράμματα που πραγματοποιήθηκαν τα τελευταία ~40 χρόνια στην ισραηλινή έρημο. Μεταξύ αυτών περιλαμβάνονται adobe, rammed earth, hempcrete, light straw-clay και άλλα. Θα παρουσιάσει τις δυνατότητες που ενσωματώνονται σε τέτοια υλικά παράλληλα με τους περιορισμούς τους.
Abstract
Buildings account for nearly 50% of the overall energy used in OECD countries. 40% are Operable Energy (OE), the energy used to heat and cool and light buildings and operate their mechanical, electrical and electronic systems, and the other 10% are Embodied Energy (EE), that which is invested in the materials, from extraction of raw materials and their processing into building materials, their transportation and the construction of the buildings.
Among other attempts of lowering this vast amount of energy, efforts have been invested in upgrade and use of natural materials, some of them used in the past, others developed in recent years.
This presentation will review critically the research and pilot projects undertaken over the past 40-odd years in the Israeli desert. It will include adobe, rammed earth, hempcrete, light straw-clay and other. It will present the potential embedded in such materials alongside their limitations.
Η Συναγωγή Ετς Χαγίμ θα φιλοξενήσει τη διάλεξη:
«Τρεις Εβραίοι συναντιούνται στη γέφυρα...»
του Ισαάκ (Σάκη) Μεΐρ
στις 16 Μαρτίου 2022, ώρα 6 μ.μ. (Ελλάδα)
Η διάλεξη θα πραγματοποιηθεί στη Συναγωγή Ετς Χαγίμ* στα Χανιά και θα μεταδοθεί μέσω
Zoom (δείτε τον σύνδεσμο παρακάτω).
Παρουσίαση: Ισαάκ (Σάκης) Μεΐρ
Καλωσόρισμα - εισαγωγή: Βασιλική Γιακουμάκη
«Τρεις Εβραίοι συναντιούνται στη γέφυρα...»
του Ισαάκ (Σάκη) Μεΐρ
στις 16 Μαρτίου 2022, ώρα 6 μ.μ. (Ελλάδα)
Η διάλεξη θα πραγματοποιηθεί στη Συναγωγή Ετς Χαγίμ* στα Χανιά και θα μεταδοθεί μέσω
Zoom (δείτε τον σύνδεσμο παρακάτω).
Παρουσίαση: Ισαάκ (Σάκης) Μεΐρ
Καλωσόρισμα - εισαγωγή: Βασιλική Γιακουμάκη
Στις 25 Νοέμβρη 1942, δυνάμεις το ΕΛΑΣ και του ΕΔΕΣ, συντονισμένες από Άγγλους ειδικών μονάδων(Special Operations Executive - SOE), ανατίναξαν τη γέφυρα του Γοργοπόταμου, σημαντικού κόμβου στη μεταφορά ενισχύσεων και υλικού στα στρατεύματα του Ρόμελ στο Ελ Αλαμέιν, όπου οι Γερμανοί πίεζαν τις Αγγλικές δυνάμεις στη Β. Αφρική.
Σ’ αυτή την επιχείρηση πήραν μέρος, μεταξύ των άλλων μαχητών, τουλάχιστον τρεις Εβραίοι, συμπεριλαμβανομένου και του Άγγλου επικεφαλής της επιχείρησης. Αυτό έχει σημασία γιατί συμβαίνει λίγους μήνες πριν αρχίσει η εφαρμογή της «ΤελικήςΛύσης» στην Ελλάδα. Για πολλά χρόνια η συνήθης αντίληψη ήταν πως οι Εβραίοι οδηγήθηκαν στα στρατόπεδα θανάτου σαν «πρόβατα στη σφαγή». Η παρουσίαση αυτή θα προσπαθήσει να δείξει μια άλλη πλευρά – των Εβραίων που πολέμησαν, και ίσως μερικούς από τους λόγους που προτίμησαν να μη μιλήσουν γι’ αυτό για πολλά χρόνια.
Έχουμε την υποχρέωση να θυμόμαστε τα 6 εκατομμύρια Εβραίους που δολοφονήθηκαν από τους Ναζί και τους συνεργάτες τους, αλλά παράλληλα έχουμε καθήκον να θυμόμαστε κι εκείνους τους Εβραίους που πήραν το όπλα και πολέμησαν – πάνω από 2 εκατομμύρια στους συμμαχικούς στρατούς σ’ όλα τα μέτωπα, και στα κινήματα αντίστασης στην κατεχόμενη Ευρώπη, τη Β. Αφρική κι αλλού.
Ισαάκ (Σάκης) Μεΐρ, καθηγητής αρχιτεκτονικής στο πανεπιστήμιο Ben-Gurion του Νέγκεβ (Ισραήλ), γεννημένος στη Θεσσαλονίκη. Βρίσκεται σε επιστημονική άδεια στο «Εργαστήριο Δομημένου Περιβάλλοντος και Διαχείρισης Ενέργειας», στο Πολυτεχνείο Κρήτης, στα Χανιά.
Βασιλική Γιακουμάκη, κοινωνική ανθρωπολόγος (Πανεπιστήμιο Θεσσαλίας) και Πρόεδρος του Δ.Σ. της ΑΜΚΕ Ετς Χαγίμ.
Για να παρακολουθήσετε τη διάλεξη διαδικτυακά μέσω Zoom, μπορείτε να χρησιμοποιήσετε τις παρακάτω πληροφορίες πρόσβασης:
Time: Mar 16, 2022 06:00 PM Athens
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87396305878?pwd=SDVNNy9YYU5ZczIxdTdhT243TlY5UT09
Meeting ID: 873 9630 5878
Passcode: 359009
* Για τη συμμετοχή σας στην εκδήλωση στη Συναγωγή Ετς Χαγγίμ, παρακαλούμε να επικοινωνήσετεμαζί μας, προκειμένου να κλείσετε την θέση σας ([email protected], τηλ. 28210-86286).
Ισχύουν τα περιοριστικά μέτρα εναντίον του COVID-19.
Σ’ αυτή την επιχείρηση πήραν μέρος, μεταξύ των άλλων μαχητών, τουλάχιστον τρεις Εβραίοι, συμπεριλαμβανομένου και του Άγγλου επικεφαλής της επιχείρησης. Αυτό έχει σημασία γιατί συμβαίνει λίγους μήνες πριν αρχίσει η εφαρμογή της «ΤελικήςΛύσης» στην Ελλάδα. Για πολλά χρόνια η συνήθης αντίληψη ήταν πως οι Εβραίοι οδηγήθηκαν στα στρατόπεδα θανάτου σαν «πρόβατα στη σφαγή». Η παρουσίαση αυτή θα προσπαθήσει να δείξει μια άλλη πλευρά – των Εβραίων που πολέμησαν, και ίσως μερικούς από τους λόγους που προτίμησαν να μη μιλήσουν γι’ αυτό για πολλά χρόνια.
Έχουμε την υποχρέωση να θυμόμαστε τα 6 εκατομμύρια Εβραίους που δολοφονήθηκαν από τους Ναζί και τους συνεργάτες τους, αλλά παράλληλα έχουμε καθήκον να θυμόμαστε κι εκείνους τους Εβραίους που πήραν το όπλα και πολέμησαν – πάνω από 2 εκατομμύρια στους συμμαχικούς στρατούς σ’ όλα τα μέτωπα, και στα κινήματα αντίστασης στην κατεχόμενη Ευρώπη, τη Β. Αφρική κι αλλού.
Ισαάκ (Σάκης) Μεΐρ, καθηγητής αρχιτεκτονικής στο πανεπιστήμιο Ben-Gurion του Νέγκεβ (Ισραήλ), γεννημένος στη Θεσσαλονίκη. Βρίσκεται σε επιστημονική άδεια στο «Εργαστήριο Δομημένου Περιβάλλοντος και Διαχείρισης Ενέργειας», στο Πολυτεχνείο Κρήτης, στα Χανιά.
Βασιλική Γιακουμάκη, κοινωνική ανθρωπολόγος (Πανεπιστήμιο Θεσσαλίας) και Πρόεδρος του Δ.Σ. της ΑΜΚΕ Ετς Χαγίμ.
Για να παρακολουθήσετε τη διάλεξη διαδικτυακά μέσω Zoom, μπορείτε να χρησιμοποιήσετε τις παρακάτω πληροφορίες πρόσβασης:
Time: Mar 16, 2022 06:00 PM Athens
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87396305878?pwd=SDVNNy9YYU5ZczIxdTdhT243TlY5UT09
Meeting ID: 873 9630 5878
Passcode: 359009
* Για τη συμμετοχή σας στην εκδήλωση στη Συναγωγή Ετς Χαγγίμ, παρακαλούμε να επικοινωνήσετεμαζί μας, προκειμένου να κλείσετε την θέση σας ([email protected], τηλ. 28210-86286).
Ισχύουν τα περιοριστικά μέτρα εναντίον του COVID-19.
Skyscrapers and us
On tall buildings, energy, climate, safety and survivability
On tall buildings, energy, climate, safety and survivability
The 8th Open Research Lecture in the frame of Postgraduate Studies Programme "Environmental Engineering", will be delivered on Thursday 20th of January, 2022 at 18:00, live at Hall K2.A2
You are welcome to attend the lecture "«Skyscrapers and us: On tall buildings, energy, climate, safety and survivability»" by Prof. Isaac A. Meir, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Sciences & Desert Architecture & Town Planning Unit, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel.
You are welcome to attend the lecture "«Skyscrapers and us: On tall buildings, energy, climate, safety and survivability»" by Prof. Isaac A. Meir, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Sciences & Desert Architecture & Town Planning Unit, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel.
A binational virtual conference on the handling of and the opportunities presented by Brutalist Architecture in Israel and North Rhine-Westphalia
Wednesday, January 12, 2022 10:00 am to 16:00 pm (cest) 11:00 am – 17:00 israel time
Big, dark and almost ugly – these are just some of the words used to describe Brutalist architecture. But are these really accurate descriptions?
Brutal – Different is a binational project between Israel and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany to discuss the giants of modernity.
Both Israel and North Rhine-Westphalia have an extensive heritage in the Brutalist style. However, these buildings and urban plans are highly controversial in both countries. Experts in both countries have therefore begun to raise public awareness of the historical, aesthetic, and social significance of these structures and to engage in an open exchange. A comparison of the handling of the buildings in the two countries will create an open space to learn from each other’s experiences and perspectives. We will learn about the genesis of this architectural movement, analyse urban planning and unique architectural qualities and debate current acceptance and handling, redevelopment and possible adaptations to make Brutalist architecture more sustainable.
Exciting experts from Israel and Germany will share their expertise with us. In discussions, lectures, and roundtables we will learn more about similarities and differences of German and Israeli Brutalism.
The Conference will be the beginning of a multi-year exchange program on building culture in both countries.
Big, dark and almost ugly – these are just some of the words used to describe Brutalist architecture. But are these really accurate descriptions?
Brutal – Different is a binational project between Israel and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany to discuss the giants of modernity.
Both Israel and North Rhine-Westphalia have an extensive heritage in the Brutalist style. However, these buildings and urban plans are highly controversial in both countries. Experts in both countries have therefore begun to raise public awareness of the historical, aesthetic, and social significance of these structures and to engage in an open exchange. A comparison of the handling of the buildings in the two countries will create an open space to learn from each other’s experiences and perspectives. We will learn about the genesis of this architectural movement, analyse urban planning and unique architectural qualities and debate current acceptance and handling, redevelopment and possible adaptations to make Brutalist architecture more sustainable.
Exciting experts from Israel and Germany will share their expertise with us. In discussions, lectures, and roundtables we will learn more about similarities and differences of German and Israeli Brutalism.
The Conference will be the beginning of a multi-year exchange program on building culture in both countries.
Nov.17, 2021 - Programa
9.30 – 9.40 Presentación del acto con mención de los partners y del papel de cada uno de ellos. Equipo The Artian
9.40 – 9.45 Bienvenida del Delegado del Rector Claudio Feijoo, UPM
9.45 – 9.50 Palabras de bienvenida representante de la Embajada de Israel
9.50 – 10.00 Explicación de la dinámica del Hackathon y del reto: "The challenge of alternative water resources in agriculture copying with water security (quantity and quality)"
10.00 - 10.40 Keynote - Profesor Noam Weisbrod, Director del Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research
10.40 - 11.05 Descripción del estado del arte en España - Profesor de la UPM (TBC)
11.00 - 11.15 Descanso
11.15 - 11.40 Descripción del estado del arte en Israel - Prof. Oded Nir
11.40 - 12.00 Desert Architecture. Towards planning and design in times of environmental uncertainty - Prof. Isaac Meir (online)
Despedida
9.30 – 9.40 Presentación del acto con mención de los partners y del papel de cada uno de ellos. Equipo The Artian
9.40 – 9.45 Bienvenida del Delegado del Rector Claudio Feijoo, UPM
9.45 – 9.50 Palabras de bienvenida representante de la Embajada de Israel
9.50 – 10.00 Explicación de la dinámica del Hackathon y del reto: "The challenge of alternative water resources in agriculture copying with water security (quantity and quality)"
10.00 - 10.40 Keynote - Profesor Noam Weisbrod, Director del Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research
10.40 - 11.05 Descripción del estado del arte en España - Profesor de la UPM (TBC)
11.00 - 11.15 Descanso
11.15 - 11.40 Descripción del estado del arte en Israel - Prof. Oded Nir
11.40 - 12.00 Desert Architecture. Towards planning and design in times of environmental uncertainty - Prof. Isaac Meir (online)
Despedida
On people, buildings and the energy between them – Are buildings killing us?
Πέμπτη 4/11, 18:00, Αίθουσα Κ2.Ι2
Η 2η Ανοικτή Ερευνητική Διάλεξη στο πλαίσιο του Προγράμματος Μεταπτυχιακών Σπουδών "Περιβαλλοντική Μηχανική" θα πραγματοποιηθεί την Πέμπτη, 4 Nοεμβρίου 2021 και ώρα 18:00, δια ζώσης, στην αίθουσα Κ2.Ι2
Παρακολουθήσετε τον Prof. Isaac A. Meir, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Sciences & Desert Architecture & Town Planning Unit , Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel στη διάλεξη με τίτλο “On people, buildings and the energy between them – Are buildings killing us?"
Η 2η Ανοικτή Ερευνητική Διάλεξη στο πλαίσιο του Προγράμματος Μεταπτυχιακών Σπουδών "Περιβαλλοντική Μηχανική" θα πραγματοποιηθεί την Πέμπτη, 4 Nοεμβρίου 2021 και ώρα 18:00, δια ζώσης, στην αίθουσα Κ2.Ι2
Παρακολουθήσετε τον Prof. Isaac A. Meir, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Sciences & Desert Architecture & Town Planning Unit , Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel στη διάλεξη με τίτλο “On people, buildings and the energy between them – Are buildings killing us?"
Climate Change:
Israeli scientists call for immediate action on national level
Israeli scientists call for immediate action on national level
Following the publication of the Sixth Assessment Report of the IPCC, a letter (in Hebrew) signed by 30 Israeli scientists was dispatched to the Ministers of the Israeli Government calling for immediate action to be taken to mitigate the climatic extremes' impacts on the country's population, economy and infrastructures.
התמודדות_מדינת_ישראל_עם_משבר_האקלים-16.08.2021__002_.pdf | |
File Size: | 424 kb |
File Type: |
BGU MOOC reaches 21,000 students from 158 countries
edX MOOC course on Environmental Protection and Sustainability has completed its 6th run. During the last semester, 5,000 students from 153 countries all over the world were enrolled, including 732 BGU students. Over the past three years this course was attended by 21,000 students from 158 countries. 5,200 BGU students have successfully completed the course.
The course is taught by a multi-disciplinary team of BGU faculty headed and coordinated by Yaron Ziv, and including Shirli Bar-David, Amit Gross, David Katoshevksi, Medad Kissinger and Isaac Meir. It is made up of 8 modules:
You can watch the promo here.
The course is taught by a multi-disciplinary team of BGU faculty headed and coordinated by Yaron Ziv, and including Shirli Bar-David, Amit Gross, David Katoshevksi, Medad Kissinger and Isaac Meir. It is made up of 8 modules:
- Biodiversity and ecological determinants
- Conservation biology and species reintroduction
- Open lands and agroecology
- Air quality and pollution
- Water quality and greywater reuse
- Green sustainable building
- Urban sustainability
- World sustainability
You can watch the promo here.
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering webpage
You are invited to visit the upgraded and updated webpage of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, where you can find information on all research labs, recent faculty papers, past and coming dept. seminar presentations, including links to the recordings of some of them.
For the moment, most updated information is in Hebrew but the English version will soon be uploaded.
For the moment, most updated information is in Hebrew but the English version will soon be uploaded.
Professor Emeritus Baruch Givoni
In Memoriam
Prof. Emeritus Baruch Givoni passed away one month before his 100th birthday. He was a pioneer and guide in the fields of building and urban climatology, thermal comfort, solar buildings and more, thus worldwide acknowledged and respected. He was a very modest and friendly person, thus he was also loved by those that met him. In 1958 he founded the Dept. of Building Climatology at the Building Research Station (currently the National Building Research Institute) at the Technion. Soon after he founded and headed the Solar Buildings Unit at the J. Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. He researched and published extensively, was active on numerous international organizations, and was honored with many prestigious awards. Many of his books and papers have been seminal, still widely read and consulted.
In 2008 Professor Givoni was awarded the first Jeffrey Cook Prize in Desert Architecture at the 2nd UNCCD Conference on Deserts, Drylands and Desertification at the Sede-Boqer Campus of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (see photo below). The prize was awarded by the Jeffrey Cook Charitable Foundation in recognition of Prof. Givoni's "lifetime achievement in research dedicated to dryland architecture and renewable energy utilization in the built environment."
Prof. Baruch Givoni was lucid and active to his last days. We had the great fortune to collaborate with him, supervise together research students and publish research papers on topics touching on the most recent practices and most relevant issues.
We shall remember him as a teacher and a friend.
In Memoriam
Prof. Emeritus Baruch Givoni passed away one month before his 100th birthday. He was a pioneer and guide in the fields of building and urban climatology, thermal comfort, solar buildings and more, thus worldwide acknowledged and respected. He was a very modest and friendly person, thus he was also loved by those that met him. In 1958 he founded the Dept. of Building Climatology at the Building Research Station (currently the National Building Research Institute) at the Technion. Soon after he founded and headed the Solar Buildings Unit at the J. Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. He researched and published extensively, was active on numerous international organizations, and was honored with many prestigious awards. Many of his books and papers have been seminal, still widely read and consulted.
In 2008 Professor Givoni was awarded the first Jeffrey Cook Prize in Desert Architecture at the 2nd UNCCD Conference on Deserts, Drylands and Desertification at the Sede-Boqer Campus of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (see photo below). The prize was awarded by the Jeffrey Cook Charitable Foundation in recognition of Prof. Givoni's "lifetime achievement in research dedicated to dryland architecture and renewable energy utilization in the built environment."
Prof. Baruch Givoni was lucid and active to his last days. We had the great fortune to collaborate with him, supervise together research students and publish research papers on topics touching on the most recent practices and most relevant issues.
We shall remember him as a teacher and a friend.
Read here recent article in Globes (in Hebrew):
Building incompatibility with a changing climate will cost human lives
Adapting construction to the exacerbating climate is not a matter raised by "capricous environmentalists" and "tree-huggers". Such adaptation is mandatory. Human lives may well be at risk.
Building incompatibility with a changing climate will cost human lives
Adapting construction to the exacerbating climate is not a matter raised by "capricous environmentalists" and "tree-huggers". Such adaptation is mandatory. Human lives may well be at risk.
אי-התאמת הבנייה לאקלים המשתנה תעלה בחיי אדם
התאמת הבנייה לאקלים ההולך ומקצין אינה עניין של גחמה של "סביבתניקים" ו"מחבקי עצים". התאמה זו היא הכרח. חיי אדם עלולים להיות בסכנה
התאמת הבנייה לאקלים ההולך ומקצין אינה עניין של גחמה של "סביבתניקים" ו"מחבקי עצים". התאמה זו היא הכרח. חיי אדם עלולים להיות בסכנה
Read here recent article in Times of Israel:
Researchers develop system to measure solar energy potential of city roofs
Ben Gurion University team maps roofs across entire southern city of Kiryat Malachi with 97% accuracy
By Sue Surkes, May 21, 2020
Researchers develop system to measure solar energy potential of city roofs
Ben Gurion University team maps roofs across entire southern city of Kiryat Malachi with 97% accuracy
By Sue Surkes, May 21, 2020
Read here recent article in Green Prohet:
Calculate your cities' solar power potential
There are companies and apps that do it already from the comfort of your own home: you can check the solar panel potential output from your roof. Is the angle right? Are you on the grid? Are you in the right latitude or longitude or what does it all mean? What company do you choose? Type of solar panel? Local or from the big city? Contracts? Loans? There are lots of things to think about. Rather than have the individual homeowner or business brave it alone a new project out of Israel, masters of solar energy innovation and implementation, helps cities decide if they should go solar.
By Karin Kloosterman, May 21, 2020
Calculate your cities' solar power potential
There are companies and apps that do it already from the comfort of your own home: you can check the solar panel potential output from your roof. Is the angle right? Are you on the grid? Are you in the right latitude or longitude or what does it all mean? What company do you choose? Type of solar panel? Local or from the big city? Contracts? Loans? There are lots of things to think about. Rather than have the individual homeowner or business brave it alone a new project out of Israel, masters of solar energy innovation and implementation, helps cities decide if they should go solar.
By Karin Kloosterman, May 21, 2020
Read here recent article in Jerusalem Report:
A Bedouin eco-farm celebrates a decade of sustainability.
Visitors from abroad to Wadi Attir are often struck by a sense of incongruousness when they discover something so hi-tech and yet “artisanal,” so contemporary and yet so ancient.
By Patricia Golan, August 1, 2019
A Bedouin eco-farm celebrates a decade of sustainability.
Visitors from abroad to Wadi Attir are often struck by a sense of incongruousness when they discover something so hi-tech and yet “artisanal,” so contemporary and yet so ancient.
By Patricia Golan, August 1, 2019
6th Jeffrey Cook Workshop in Desert Architecture:
ZeroPlus Energy Settlements
Dept. of Structural Engineering | Desert Architecture & Urban Planning Unit, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Marcus Family Campus, Beer-Sheva, Israel
November 25-26, 2019
Buildings and settlements are nowadays increasingly expected to meet higher and potentially more complex levels of performance. They should be sustainable, use zero-net energy, be healthy and comfortable, grid-friendly, yet economical to build and maintain. Buildings are central to energy efficiency policy. Improving the energy performance of the building stock is crucial, not only to achieve targets such as those of EU's 2020 ones, but also to meet the longer term objectives of the climate strategy as laid down in the low carbon economy roadmap 2050.
The aim of the ZERO-PLUS research project is to search for buildings design for new highly energy performing buildings (H2020-EE-2015-1-PPP). Towards this goal, a comprehensive, cost-effective modular system for Net Zero Energy (NZE) settlements has been developed and implemented in a series of case studies across the EU covering different geoclimatic regions – Cyprus, Italy, France and the UK.
In ZERO-PLUS, the challenge of significantly reducing the costs of NZE settlements is achieved through the implementation of three parallel strategies:
To put it differently, the project’s aims are to achieve Operational Energy (OE) use <20kWh/m2/a; energy production from Renewable Energy Sources (RES) >50kWh/m2/a; and an overall Investment Cost Reduction (ICR) >16% compared to conventional nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEBs). To date three of the four case studies have been constructed, monitored and are surpassing the targets set, as was presented in detail during the Workshop.
The two-day event was held at the Marcus Family Campus of the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Speakers from Australia, Canada, Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Italy, Luxemburg, The Netherlands and the UK included Horizon2020 ZeroPlus Energy Settlements consortium partners, as well as other acknowledged authorities in the fields of Zero Energy Buildings, sustainability and construction, assessment tools, principles and practices.
List of Speakers (in alphabetical order):
Margarita-Niki Asimakopoulos, NKUA, Greece
Andreas Athienitis, Concordia University, Canada
Polina Gluzman, IDF, Israel
Rajat Gupta, OBU, UK
Shabtai Isaac, BGU, Israel
Denia Kolokotsa, TUC, Greece
Marina Kyprianou Drakou, CYI, Cyprus
Elise Machline, LISER, Luxemburg
Fabio Montagnino, ARCA, Italy
Peter op' Veld, Huygen Engineers & Consultants, The Netherlands
David Pearmutter & Erez Gal, BGU, Israel
Gloria Pignatta, CONTEDIL, Italy & UNSW, Australia
Arie Rahamimoff, Rahamimof Architects, Israel
Keren Schvetz, ILGBC, Israel
Slava Shubin, BGU, Israel
Theodoros Theodosiou, AUTH, Greece
Ana Tisov, Huygen Engineers & Consultants, The Netherlands
Special Events:
Cook Prize Award Ceremony
The Workshop has traditionally included the award of the Jeffrey Cook Prize to outstanding professionals and academics who have had a significant contribution to fields relevant to the Workshop’s agenda. This year’s Jeffrey Cook Prize was awarded to Arch. Arie Rahamimoff for his lifetime contribution to environmentally responsive architecture in Israel, and to Arch. Soultana-Tanya Saroglou for her outstanding student research (PhD) on Design Strategies Towards more Energy Efficient High-rise Buildings.
Round Table Discussion with representatives of the Planning Authorities, NGOs, Industry
Attendance reached a total of approximately 80 people over the two days, and included the Chief Architect of the Ministry of Construction and Housing accompanied by a number of her office’s senior staff, academics, undergraduate and research students, and professionals, including overseas participants.
The Workshop’s second day was closed by a Round Table which brought together representatives of the Israel Ministries of Construction and Housing; National Infrastructure, Water and Energy Resources; Environmental Protection; the Chief Planner, District Planning and Building Committee, Ministry of Finance, South District; Ministry of Defense – IDF; Israel Green Building Council; and the Association of Green Building Consultants. They each were asked to address questions on the barriers towards vs. the potential of implementing concepts and practices towards Zero Energy Settlements.
We take this opportunity to thank all those who have contributed to the success of the Workshop, first and foremost the speakers for their efforts and significant contribution.
Workshop Chair:
Prof. Isaac A. Meir and Dr. Shabtai Isaac
This event is organized under the auspices of the Jeffrey Cook Charitable Trust, in collaboration with the ZeroPlus Consortium, the Israel Green Building Council – ILGBC, BGU Green Campus, and BGU VP for R&D.
Workshop presentations are available for viewing here.
Important Notice: The presentations linked through this page are the sole property of their authors and are copyright protected. You are welcome to view and quote them, but you are kindly requested to refrain from downloading, copying or using in any other manner, without prior written consent of their authors.
ZeroPlus Energy Settlements
Dept. of Structural Engineering | Desert Architecture & Urban Planning Unit, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Marcus Family Campus, Beer-Sheva, Israel
November 25-26, 2019
Buildings and settlements are nowadays increasingly expected to meet higher and potentially more complex levels of performance. They should be sustainable, use zero-net energy, be healthy and comfortable, grid-friendly, yet economical to build and maintain. Buildings are central to energy efficiency policy. Improving the energy performance of the building stock is crucial, not only to achieve targets such as those of EU's 2020 ones, but also to meet the longer term objectives of the climate strategy as laid down in the low carbon economy roadmap 2050.
The aim of the ZERO-PLUS research project is to search for buildings design for new highly energy performing buildings (H2020-EE-2015-1-PPP). Towards this goal, a comprehensive, cost-effective modular system for Net Zero Energy (NZE) settlements has been developed and implemented in a series of case studies across the EU covering different geoclimatic regions – Cyprus, Italy, France and the UK.
In ZERO-PLUS, the challenge of significantly reducing the costs of NZE settlements is achieved through the implementation of three parallel strategies:
- Increasing the efficiency of the components directly providing the energy conservation and energy generation in the NZE settlement.
- Reducing the "balance of system" costs through efficient production and installation processes.
- Reducing operational costs through better management of the loads and resources on a district scale rather than on the scale of a single building.
To put it differently, the project’s aims are to achieve Operational Energy (OE) use <20kWh/m2/a; energy production from Renewable Energy Sources (RES) >50kWh/m2/a; and an overall Investment Cost Reduction (ICR) >16% compared to conventional nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEBs). To date three of the four case studies have been constructed, monitored and are surpassing the targets set, as was presented in detail during the Workshop.
The two-day event was held at the Marcus Family Campus of the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Speakers from Australia, Canada, Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Italy, Luxemburg, The Netherlands and the UK included Horizon2020 ZeroPlus Energy Settlements consortium partners, as well as other acknowledged authorities in the fields of Zero Energy Buildings, sustainability and construction, assessment tools, principles and practices.
List of Speakers (in alphabetical order):
Margarita-Niki Asimakopoulos, NKUA, Greece
Andreas Athienitis, Concordia University, Canada
Polina Gluzman, IDF, Israel
Rajat Gupta, OBU, UK
Shabtai Isaac, BGU, Israel
Denia Kolokotsa, TUC, Greece
Marina Kyprianou Drakou, CYI, Cyprus
Elise Machline, LISER, Luxemburg
Fabio Montagnino, ARCA, Italy
Peter op' Veld, Huygen Engineers & Consultants, The Netherlands
David Pearmutter & Erez Gal, BGU, Israel
Gloria Pignatta, CONTEDIL, Italy & UNSW, Australia
Arie Rahamimoff, Rahamimof Architects, Israel
Keren Schvetz, ILGBC, Israel
Slava Shubin, BGU, Israel
Theodoros Theodosiou, AUTH, Greece
Ana Tisov, Huygen Engineers & Consultants, The Netherlands
Special Events:
Cook Prize Award Ceremony
The Workshop has traditionally included the award of the Jeffrey Cook Prize to outstanding professionals and academics who have had a significant contribution to fields relevant to the Workshop’s agenda. This year’s Jeffrey Cook Prize was awarded to Arch. Arie Rahamimoff for his lifetime contribution to environmentally responsive architecture in Israel, and to Arch. Soultana-Tanya Saroglou for her outstanding student research (PhD) on Design Strategies Towards more Energy Efficient High-rise Buildings.
Round Table Discussion with representatives of the Planning Authorities, NGOs, Industry
Attendance reached a total of approximately 80 people over the two days, and included the Chief Architect of the Ministry of Construction and Housing accompanied by a number of her office’s senior staff, academics, undergraduate and research students, and professionals, including overseas participants.
The Workshop’s second day was closed by a Round Table which brought together representatives of the Israel Ministries of Construction and Housing; National Infrastructure, Water and Energy Resources; Environmental Protection; the Chief Planner, District Planning and Building Committee, Ministry of Finance, South District; Ministry of Defense – IDF; Israel Green Building Council; and the Association of Green Building Consultants. They each were asked to address questions on the barriers towards vs. the potential of implementing concepts and practices towards Zero Energy Settlements.
We take this opportunity to thank all those who have contributed to the success of the Workshop, first and foremost the speakers for their efforts and significant contribution.
Workshop Chair:
Prof. Isaac A. Meir and Dr. Shabtai Isaac
This event is organized under the auspices of the Jeffrey Cook Charitable Trust, in collaboration with the ZeroPlus Consortium, the Israel Green Building Council – ILGBC, BGU Green Campus, and BGU VP for R&D.
Workshop presentations are available for viewing here.
Important Notice: The presentations linked through this page are the sole property of their authors and are copyright protected. You are welcome to view and quote them, but you are kindly requested to refrain from downloading, copying or using in any other manner, without prior written consent of their authors.
Israel as a Modern Architectural Experimental Lab, 1948-1979
Edited by Inbal Ben-Asher Gitler and Anat Geva
ISBN 9781789380644
Hardback | 244 x 170 mm | £90.00 | 390 pages | Nov. 2019
Currently not available
Intellect Books, Bristol
Edited by Inbal Ben-Asher Gitler and Anat Geva
ISBN 9781789380644
Hardback | 244 x 170 mm | £90.00 | 390 pages | Nov. 2019
Currently not available
Intellect Books, Bristol
This collection discusses the innovative and experimental architecture of Israel during its first three decades following the nation’s establishment in 1948. Written by leading researchers, the volume highlights new perspectives on the topic, discussing the inception, modernisation, and habitation of historic and lesser-researched areas alike in its interrogation. Inbal Ben-Asher Gitler and Anat Geva show how Israeli nation building, in its cultural, political, and historical contexts, constituted an exceptional experiment in modern architecture. Examples include modern experiments in mass housing design; public architecture such as exhibition spaces, youth villages, and synagogues; a necessary consideration of climate in modern architectural experiments; and the exportation of Israeli modern architecture to other countries.
Table of Contents:
Introduction by Inbal Ben-Asher Gitler and Anat Geva
Part I: Modern Experiments in Rural and Urban Design
Chapter 1: The Experimental Integrative Habitation Unit as a Modern Experimental Lab in Israel by Yair Barak
Chapter 2: From A-Locality to Locality: The Gur Neighbourhood in Hatzor HaGlili by Oryan Shachar
Chapter 3: Un-Settling Established Narratives: The West Bank ‘Communal Settlement’ as Architecture and Planning Lab by Yael Allweil
Chapter 4: Landscape Modernism and the Kibbutz: The Work of Shmuel Bickels (1909–1975) by Elissa Rosenberg
Part II: Public Architecture as Testing Ground
Chapter 5: A Museum In Between: The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, 1965 by Eliyahu Keller
Chapter 6: Genia Averbuch: Modernism Meets the Vernacular: Youth Villages for New Immigrants, 1948–1955 by Sigal Davidi
Chapter 7: The Modern Israeli Synagogue as an Experiment in Jewish Tradition by Naomi Simhony
Chapter 8: Israeli Architecture at a Turning Point: Designs for the Israeli Center for Technological Awareness, 1978 by Jeremy Kargon
Part III: Considering Climate
Chapter 9: Minus 400 and Over 40 Degrees: Architecture in the Dead Sea, 1948–1971 by Daphne Binder and Theodore Kofman
Chapter 10: Architectonic Experimentation in Early Israeli Architecture Vis-à-Vis Climatic Constraints: The Case of the Negev Desert by Isaac A. Meir, Rachel Bernstein and Keren Shalev
Chapter 11: The Other Side of Climate: The Unscientific Nature of Climatic Architectural Design in Israel by Or Aleksandrowicz
Part IV: Reflections Abroad
Chapter 12: Building and Re-Building a Nation’s Identity: Israeli and Italian Architectural Culture, Their Representation and the Role of Bruno Zevi (1918–2000) by Matteo Cassani Simonetti
Chapter 13: Prefabricating Nativism: The Design of the Israeli Knesset, 1956–1966 and the Sierra Leone Parliament, 1960–1964 by Ayala Levin
Table of Contents:
Introduction by Inbal Ben-Asher Gitler and Anat Geva
Part I: Modern Experiments in Rural and Urban Design
Chapter 1: The Experimental Integrative Habitation Unit as a Modern Experimental Lab in Israel by Yair Barak
Chapter 2: From A-Locality to Locality: The Gur Neighbourhood in Hatzor HaGlili by Oryan Shachar
Chapter 3: Un-Settling Established Narratives: The West Bank ‘Communal Settlement’ as Architecture and Planning Lab by Yael Allweil
Chapter 4: Landscape Modernism and the Kibbutz: The Work of Shmuel Bickels (1909–1975) by Elissa Rosenberg
Part II: Public Architecture as Testing Ground
Chapter 5: A Museum In Between: The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, 1965 by Eliyahu Keller
Chapter 6: Genia Averbuch: Modernism Meets the Vernacular: Youth Villages for New Immigrants, 1948–1955 by Sigal Davidi
Chapter 7: The Modern Israeli Synagogue as an Experiment in Jewish Tradition by Naomi Simhony
Chapter 8: Israeli Architecture at a Turning Point: Designs for the Israeli Center for Technological Awareness, 1978 by Jeremy Kargon
Part III: Considering Climate
Chapter 9: Minus 400 and Over 40 Degrees: Architecture in the Dead Sea, 1948–1971 by Daphne Binder and Theodore Kofman
Chapter 10: Architectonic Experimentation in Early Israeli Architecture Vis-à-Vis Climatic Constraints: The Case of the Negev Desert by Isaac A. Meir, Rachel Bernstein and Keren Shalev
Chapter 11: The Other Side of Climate: The Unscientific Nature of Climatic Architectural Design in Israel by Or Aleksandrowicz
Part IV: Reflections Abroad
Chapter 12: Building and Re-Building a Nation’s Identity: Israeli and Italian Architectural Culture, Their Representation and the Role of Bruno Zevi (1918–2000) by Matteo Cassani Simonetti
Chapter 13: Prefabricating Nativism: The Design of the Israeli Knesset, 1956–1966 and the Sierra Leone Parliament, 1960–1964 by Ayala Levin
Climatic uncertainty and the architecture of survivability
Prof. Isaac A. Meir, Ben-Gurion University, Israel
A number of trends converge in creating completely new scenarios questioning the continuation of human habitation in various parts of the globe. These trends include a growing climatic uncertainty with weather extremes becoming more intense and more frequent, but also with urbanization becoming the predominant settlement trend, as well as the driving force behind economy. Big urban centers are known to have their distinct microclimate, and when this is combined with weather extremes, the combination can prove lethal.
However, people in industrialized countries spend over 90% of their lives indoors. Outdoors is not our natural environment anymore as we have evolved into building animals. Thus the Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ) affects our comfort (thermal, visual, psychological), our wellbeing, our health, our productivity, achievements, and happiness Yet most of our buildings fail to provide for any of these needs. On the contrary, they harm us in many different ways. They are poorly designed and detailed and cause us to use auxiliary energy to condition them, even in temperate climates, which, in turn, affects negatively the outdoors, too. They are built and finished with materials emitting harmful gases (off gassing), particles, and radiation. They are poorly ventilated and trap indoor and outdoor pollutants, pathogens and allergens, and induce fungal growth. Data from a large number of Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) studies, surveys and research projects from Israel and abroad, will illustrate the above claims and propose some elementary remedies which architects and engineers, as well as any building user, should know, yet most of us ignore.
The quality of Indoor Environments may prove of vital importance for the actual survivability of people, certainly those in high risk groups – the old, the chronically ill, those with cardio-vascular or respiratory problems, the pregnant, the babies. Yet IEQ in poorly designed buildings may prove much worse than that outdoors.
Various countries are already considering the possibility of relocating their population from climatically unsustainable areas, whereas elsewhere climatic refugees are crossing borders in numbers that reach tens of millions annually. The uncontrolled congestion caused by such events exacerbates conditions in already densely populated urban centers. This presentation attempts to make the case for green technologies and green buildings as the only possible alternative strategy to reverse—or at least significantly delay—a concentration of populations toward and in the more temperate zones. Going green may, in fact, be the only strategy for survival in climatically contested regions.
The Extended Abstract and Supplementary Material
Prof. Isaac A. Meir, Ben-Gurion University, Israel
A number of trends converge in creating completely new scenarios questioning the continuation of human habitation in various parts of the globe. These trends include a growing climatic uncertainty with weather extremes becoming more intense and more frequent, but also with urbanization becoming the predominant settlement trend, as well as the driving force behind economy. Big urban centers are known to have their distinct microclimate, and when this is combined with weather extremes, the combination can prove lethal.
However, people in industrialized countries spend over 90% of their lives indoors. Outdoors is not our natural environment anymore as we have evolved into building animals. Thus the Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ) affects our comfort (thermal, visual, psychological), our wellbeing, our health, our productivity, achievements, and happiness Yet most of our buildings fail to provide for any of these needs. On the contrary, they harm us in many different ways. They are poorly designed and detailed and cause us to use auxiliary energy to condition them, even in temperate climates, which, in turn, affects negatively the outdoors, too. They are built and finished with materials emitting harmful gases (off gassing), particles, and radiation. They are poorly ventilated and trap indoor and outdoor pollutants, pathogens and allergens, and induce fungal growth. Data from a large number of Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) studies, surveys and research projects from Israel and abroad, will illustrate the above claims and propose some elementary remedies which architects and engineers, as well as any building user, should know, yet most of us ignore.
The quality of Indoor Environments may prove of vital importance for the actual survivability of people, certainly those in high risk groups – the old, the chronically ill, those with cardio-vascular or respiratory problems, the pregnant, the babies. Yet IEQ in poorly designed buildings may prove much worse than that outdoors.
Various countries are already considering the possibility of relocating their population from climatically unsustainable areas, whereas elsewhere climatic refugees are crossing borders in numbers that reach tens of millions annually. The uncontrolled congestion caused by such events exacerbates conditions in already densely populated urban centers. This presentation attempts to make the case for green technologies and green buildings as the only possible alternative strategy to reverse—or at least significantly delay—a concentration of populations toward and in the more temperate zones. Going green may, in fact, be the only strategy for survival in climatically contested regions.
The Extended Abstract and Supplementary Material
Academia in the Library Lectures Series
Zero Energy Settlements On the EU ZeroPlus Project Prof. Isaac (Sakis) Meir You can watch the lecture (in Hebrew) here. |
SBE19
Thessaloniki
Sustainability in the built environment for climate change mitigation
23-25 October 2019
http://sbe19-thessaloniki.gr/
Thessaloniki
Sustainability in the built environment for climate change mitigation
23-25 October 2019
http://sbe19-thessaloniki.gr/
40 years of MID Legacy
Dept. Man in the Desert (MID)
Research Students Conference
June 12-13, 2019
Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus
Dept. Man in the Desert (MID)
Research Students Conference
June 12-13, 2019
Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus
Man in the Desert Closing Seminar Program
Day 1 – 12/6/2019
9:00 – 10:00 Arrival and Coffee
10:00 – 11:10 Welcome and opening remarks
11:10 – 11:30 Break
11:30 – 13:25 1. Social and Environmental Research in Drylands and Peripheral Areas, Chair: Yaakov Garb
13:25 – 14:00 Lunch
14:00 – 15:35 2. Health and Employment in Desert and Peripheral Communities, Chair: Pnina Motzafi-Haller
15:35 – 16:00 Break and Coffee
16:00 – 17:35 3. Alternative Building Materials, Chair: David Pearlmutter
17:35 – 17:45 Break
17:45 – 18:35 4. Buildings and Well-Being, Chair: Evyatar Erell
20:00 Students’ Pub open and live music
Day 2 – 13/6/2019
9:00 – 10:00 Arrival and Coffee
10:00 – 11:55 5. Energy efficient high-performance buildings, Chair: Moshe Schwartz
11:55 – 12:15 Break
12:15 – 13:05 6. Urban Aspects, Chair: Yodan Rofè
13:05 – 14:00 Lunch
14:00 – 16:00 7. Archeology and History of Desert Settlements, Chair: Isaac Meir
16:00 – 16:30 Coffee Break
16:30 – 18:00 8. Keren Shalev - Planning and Community: How the built environment affects the life of the community that lives in it, lecture and walk in Midreshet Ben-Gurion
18:00 – 18:45 Closing Remarks
19:00 - Bar-B-Q by MID students at the Students’ Pub
Day 1 – 12/6/2019
9:00 – 10:00 Arrival and Coffee
10:00 – 11:10 Welcome and opening remarks
- Noam Weisbrod, Alon Tal, Isaac Meir (25’)
- Arch. Matti Kones – The Foundation and Early Work of the Unit for Desert Architecture and Urban Planning (20’)
- Tareq Abu Hamed – The cooperation between MID and AIES (15’)
- Wolfgang Motzafi-Haller – Photographic Essay on MID (10’)
11:10 – 11:30 Break
11:30 – 13:25 1. Social and Environmental Research in Drylands and Peripheral Areas, Chair: Yaakov Garb
- Alice Gaya - Islands of Peace: An Ethnographic research among mixed families-Jews and Arabs in Israel (45’)
- Hashem Sayed - The effect of Place-Based Education on the Sense of Place and Educational Achievement of Bedouin Children Living in an Unrecognized Village (25’)
- Aiste Klimasauskaite: Theorizing frames in Environmental Communication (45’)
13:25 – 14:00 Lunch
14:00 – 15:35 2. Health and Employment in Desert and Peripheral Communities, Chair: Pnina Motzafi-Haller
- Yulia Shevchenko - The most successful immigration? Post-Soviet women in the peripheral labor market (45’)
- Or Eliezer - Employment patterns in Ulpana graduate from Mizrahi ethnic origin in the Negev settlements (25’
- Tebo Kgosiemang - Sexual Reproductive Health Education: First Line of Defence for Adolescent Girls in Gaborone (25’)
15:35 – 16:00 Break and Coffee
16:00 – 17:35 3. Alternative Building Materials, Chair: David Pearlmutter
- Yaakov Florentin - Development and Life-Cycle Energy and Carbon Analysis of a Functionally Graded Biocomposite Building Material (45’)
- Rotem Haik - Low Energy Insulating Building Materials Based On Hemp Bio-Aggregate (25’)
- Shahar Ouannou - Life-Cycle Analysis of Innovative Building Material Using Biocomposites and Rammed Earth (25’)
17:35 – 17:45 Break
17:45 – 18:35 4. Buildings and Well-Being, Chair: Evyatar Erell
- Annette Penny - Post-Occupancy Evaluation of university facilities in a hot arid climate: The case of Ben Gurion University of the Negev (25’)
- Sigal Rosenfeld - Circadian light and health outcomes in hospitals in Israel (25’)
20:00 Students’ Pub open and live music
Day 2 – 13/6/2019
9:00 – 10:00 Arrival and Coffee
10:00 – 11:55 5. Energy efficient high-performance buildings, Chair: Moshe Schwartz
- Alex Cicelsky - Development of sustainable natural insulation materials for high performance buildings (45’)
- Eyal Zilberberg - Feasibility Study of Embedded and Operative Energy Savings Tanya Saroglou - Design Strategies Towards More Energy Efficient High-rise Buildings (45’)
11:55 – 12:15 Break
12:15 – 13:05 6. Urban Aspects, Chair: Yodan Rofè
- Bin Zhou - Scrutinizing Intra-urban Microclimate Variability in Be'er Sheva: A multi-method approach (25’)
- Francisco Achwoka - Transportation Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa – Opportunity for sustainable and inclusive urban mobility solutions through a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System (25’)
13:05 – 14:00 Lunch
14:00 – 16:00 7. Archeology and History of Desert Settlements, Chair: Isaac Meir
- Haim Mamalya - Quarries and building stones the used for the construction of the Negev cities in the Late Roman and Byzantine period Nessana, Avdat and Rehovot-in-the-Negev as case studies (45’)
- Rachel Bernstein - Byzantine Monasticism in the Negev: Physical, Architectonic, and Socio-Economic Context (25’)
- Gabriel Ore - Ancient water cisterns on the Negev Highlands along the Makhtesh Ramon – Mishor haRuhot axis: Geoarchaeology and spatial simulations (25’)
- Zohar Tzofnat – Environmental history of Central Asian Deserts (25’)
16:00 – 16:30 Coffee Break
16:30 – 18:00 8. Keren Shalev - Planning and Community: How the built environment affects the life of the community that lives in it, lecture and walk in Midreshet Ben-Gurion
18:00 – 18:45 Closing Remarks
19:00 - Bar-B-Q by MID students at the Students’ Pub
mid_closing_seminar_book_of_abstracts.pdf | |
File Size: | 6344 kb |
File Type: |
10th Annual Conference
Ben-Gurion University Salutes
the Green NGOs Guides
June 23, 2019
Building 98, Auditorium 01
Marcus Family Campus
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva
Ben-Gurion University Salutes
the Green NGOs Guides
June 23, 2019
Building 98, Auditorium 01
Marcus Family Campus
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva
10th Student Symposium of the Swiss Institute for Dryland Environmental & Energy Research
The Human Element:
Challenges Facing Science & Society
May 19-21, 2019
Sede Boqer Campus, George Evens Family Auditorium
The Human Element:
Challenges Facing Science & Society
May 19-21, 2019
Sede Boqer Campus, George Evens Family Auditorium
May 19, 2019 - Session II: Man and Environment 15:15-16:45
Isaac A. Meir (Sakis)
On people, buildings and the energy between them:
Are buildings killing us?
People in industrialized countries spend over 90% of their lives indoors. Outdoors is not our natural environment anymore as we have evolved into building animals. Thus the Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ) affects our comfort (thermal, visual, psychological), our wellbeing, our health, our productivity, achievements, and happiness. Yet most of our buildings fail to provide for any of these needs. On the contrary, they harm us in many different ways. They are poorly designed and detailed and cause us to use auxiliary energy to condition them, even in temperate climates, which, in turn, affects negatively the outdoors, too. They are built and finished with materials emitting harmful gases (off gassing), particles, and radiation. They are poorly ventilated and trap indoor and outdoor pollutants, pathogens and allergens, and induce fungal growth. This talk will bring forth data from a large number of Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) studies, surveys and research projects from Israel and abroad, will illustrate the above claims and propose some elementary remedies which architects and engineers, as well as any building user, should know, yet most of us ignore.
Isaac A. Meir (Sakis)
On people, buildings and the energy between them:
Are buildings killing us?
People in industrialized countries spend over 90% of their lives indoors. Outdoors is not our natural environment anymore as we have evolved into building animals. Thus the Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ) affects our comfort (thermal, visual, psychological), our wellbeing, our health, our productivity, achievements, and happiness. Yet most of our buildings fail to provide for any of these needs. On the contrary, they harm us in many different ways. They are poorly designed and detailed and cause us to use auxiliary energy to condition them, even in temperate climates, which, in turn, affects negatively the outdoors, too. They are built and finished with materials emitting harmful gases (off gassing), particles, and radiation. They are poorly ventilated and trap indoor and outdoor pollutants, pathogens and allergens, and induce fungal growth. This talk will bring forth data from a large number of Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) studies, surveys and research projects from Israel and abroad, will illustrate the above claims and propose some elementary remedies which architects and engineers, as well as any building user, should know, yet most of us ignore.
May 21, 2019 - Archaeological Field Trip - 12:15-15:00
On the 21st of May, we will have an archaeological tour with Prof. Isaac A. Meir (Sakis) to the Avdat site (and petroglyphs in the area if we have enough time).
On the 21st of May, we will have an archaeological tour with Prof. Isaac A. Meir (Sakis) to the Avdat site (and petroglyphs in the area if we have enough time).
Sakis leading one of his famous archaeological trips.
The Human Element: Challenges Facing Science and Society
10th Student Symposium of the Swiss Institute for Dryland Environmental
& Energy Research
May 21 morning session - Opening remarks by Isaac A. Meir
Good day, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I was asked to open the third day of the 10th SIDEER annual symposium as the representative of a department that has been brutally and illogically dismantled – Man in Drylands – which studied the interactions of the Human Element with a very specific environment.
I would have loved to open with George Carlin’s “Save the Planet!”, but we have no time for this so please access the clip on youtube at your spare time. It is worth every minute – and certainly to the point in this discussion.
It took the human race 200,000 years to reach a population of 1 billion; and then it took another 200 years for it to surpass 7 billion.
We and our growth are the product of revolutions – the Agricultural Revolution, the Urbanization Revolution, the big discoveries, the Reformation, the French Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, the medical revolution, the information revolution. And all this time we have been shaping our environments – and our gods - in our own image. In 1492 Columbus discovered America and the Europeans caused the annihilation of the Amerindians by bringing flue and smallpox. In his somewhat speculative history book “1421: The Year China Discovered the World”, Menzies describes the plausible discovery of the Americas, New Zealand and Australia, among other lands, by the Chinese fleets that accompanied the foreign emissaries back to their countries at the end of the Forbidden City's inauguration celebrations.
These and so many more shaped the world. From hunting and gathering and fishing, to agricultural settlement, deforestation, colonization, mining and quarrying, changing the land and diverting the flow of rivers, building cities and megacities, fossil fuel burning, raising the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere from less than 300 ppm in the year 1900 to over 415 ppm today, from plastics in the stomachs of wild animals to microplastics in the peptic system of miniscule shrimp in the deepest ravines of the Pacific, we have been shaping our environment in every possible way from the day we developed social skills and tools.
We have been able to settle every existing niche on the planet, and develop faculties that allowed us to survive in the most adverse and extreme conditions as Felipe Fernández-Armesto showed in his book “Civilizations: Culture, Ambition, and the Transformation of Nature” (2000), yet at an environmental price often too high, as explained by Jared Diamond in “Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies” (1997) and in “Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed” (2005).
And the population kept growing despite, or because of, all this.
In 1798 Malthus published his “Essay on the Principle of Population” in which he expresses concern about the lack of corresponding growth between population and food production capacity. Paul Ehrlich goes a step further on in his seminal book “Population Bomb” (1968).
And the population kept growing despite all this. So did its needs and the living standard that kept rising.
I need to mention two books in this context.
Edward Glaeser’s “Triumph of the City: How Our Greatest Invention Makes Us Richer, Smarter, Greener, Healthier, and Happier” tells us that the denser and taller and deeper a city, the more people we pack per square kilometer, the greener, the more sustainable the city is. Only two days ago, on Sunday, we talked about planning and urban issues and I think we have demonstrated how our cities are overcrowded polluted unhealthy ecological niches populated mainly by humans, rats and cockroaches, who will eventually inherit us. We also asked the question “are buildings killing us?” and I am afraid the answer was positive.
Which brings us to the second book, by my friend and colleague Alon Tal – “The Land is Full – Addressing Overpopulation in Israel”. Alon does not give us the magic number for the optimal size of Israel’s population, but he asks hard questions – what is the largest population this country can support with its carrying capacity? Can we estimate it and what are the discrepancies between maximum and optimum? What will its needs be in terms of transportation, public utilities, clean air, safe water, food and can we meet them? What will the environment and lifestyle look like? And can we please plan for all those?
Because humans have been overexploiting our environments and degrading them constantly. Prof. Amos Richmond, founder and past director of the Institute for Desert Research, used to say that desertification is not just an environmental phenomenon, but first and foremost a socio-economic one.
The UN Commission headed by Gro Harlem Brundtland released in 1987 “Our Common Future”, its concluding report, which defines sustainable development as that which “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. Which, in simple words, means planning, management, environmentally aware development.
These can mean only one thing – the Human Element is not yet another part of the equation. It is the predominant parameter in anything and everything that goes on around us. Without the Human Element sustainability, sustainable development, ecological services, resources management and all those other trendy concepts and buzz words make no sense, are of no consequence. Without the Human Element appropriately organized and managed, there will be no environment left to sustainably plan and develop.
Therefore, removing so thoughtlessly and anti-academically the Department for Man in Drylands from the Institutes for Desert Research has been such a foolish and wrong, misinformed and ill-intended decision.
On this unhappy and pessimistic note I wish you successful and productive Symposium proceedings.