Select your language

Building Science

altThe optimization of the operations of a building has developed the term "building science", which seeks to integrate all knowledge, both technological and architectural, for the benefit of the efficiency of a construction. by Camilo Botero*
 


In recent years I have brought to this column, topics such as energy efficiency, LEED, commissioning, energy audits, zero energy balance, smart grids, climate change and my favorite topic: the virtuous circle: Training + Standardization + Certification. As buildings in general are large consumers of energy (electricity and hydrocarbons, mainly), the percentages of their participation in these consumptions vary visibly from country to country, by development, by climate and by culture of URE (Rational Use of Energy), therefore I will not give a figure of this%, as I have placed in previous articles, perhaps at the risk of being imprecise and even wrong, but what is obvious is that we must give priority to energy consumption in buildings and we have a social and economic obligation to do so. I have recently attended several congresses and conferences where emphasis is placed on all the topics described in the first paragraph of this article and recently the concept "building science" is appearing, due to the complexity that O&M (operate and maintain) represents in buildings from the point of view of the rational use of their energy, its impact on the environment and its sustainability in its life cycle. I attach the definition that appears in Wikipedia on the subject, but making a free translation of the first paragraph the "science of buildings" would be: The collection of scientific knowledge that focuses on the analysis and control of physical phenomena that affect buildings. Traditionally it includes the analysis of the materials of the building, and the systems of the envelope of the same. In Europe, building physics is a term used for the domain of knowledge that overlaps strongly with "building science" and includes fire protection, noise control overhead lighting, as well as the approach to heat and humidity that tend to dominate the subject in North America, referring to "building science". The practical purpose of this science is to provide predictive capacity to optimize the performance of buildings and understand and prevent failures. It is the discipline of combined architectural-engineering construction technology that has to do with the "main design details" as a response to naturally occurring physical phenomena such as the following: - Climate.
- Terrain conditions.
- Characteristics of the materials.
- Physical, chemical and biological characteristics.
- Human physiology.
- Use of energy and its O&M control". In general, construction projects are carried out in a dispersed and superficially linked way, therefore, serious problems often occur in the design, supply, assembly and O&M. Nor are they perfectly defined or not made known to all those involved, the OPR (Owner Project Requirements) that is, all the requirements clearly defined by the owner so that the building works optimally throughout its life cycle. In addition, it is rarely fulfilled in an organized, informed and documented way, at least in what I know in detail, what are the air conditioning systems, the fundamental steps of the project that describes and proactively leads the commissioning. - OPR.
- Pre-design.
- Design.
- Construction.
- O&M. And all this throughout the useful life of the building and not only in each phase separately or while the design, assembly and start of the building lasts.
Therefore, I dare to call on the engineering and architectural community that is involved in the construction of buildings to encourage the study of the "science of buildings". Of course, the universities, technological institutes and guilds of the country are welcome to contribute their ideas with the purpose that we will soon have: "Masters in building science". alt*Camilo Botero is the current Secretary of the Federation of Ibero-American Associations of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration - FAIAR; he was president of ACAIRE and is president of Camilo Botero Ingenieros Consultores Ltda. He has worked as a teacher in several Colombian universities, guilds and currently in ACAIRE in diploma courses of air conditioning projects, energy efficiency in air conditioning and refrigeration, cogeneration and trigeneration, applied psychometrics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer and turbomachinery.

No comments

• If you're already registered, please log in first. Your email will not be published.

Leave your comment

In reply to Some User
HVAC project at the Javeriana University, finalist in the CALA Awards 2025 in the HVAC category

HVAC project at the Javeriana University, finalist in the CALA Awards 2025 in the HVAC category

The HVAC system installed in the building of the Faculty of Sciences of the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, in Bogotá, was selected as a finalist in the HVAC category of the CALA Awards 2025....

Concord Project in La Lima Free Trade Zone, finalist in the HVAC category of the CALA Awards 2025

Concord Project in La Lima Free Trade Zone, finalist in the HVAC category of the CALA Awards 2025

The HVAC system project carried out by MultiFRIO for the company Concord in the La Lima Free Trade Zone, in Cartago, received the final prize in the HVAC category of the CALA Awards 2025, a...

HVAC project at the Universidad Santiago de Cali, finalist in the CALA AWARDS HVAC category

HVAC project at the Universidad Santiago de Cali, finalist in the CALA AWARDS HVAC category

The air conditioning project of the Auditorium Building and the Technology Center of the new campus of the Santiago de Cali University was chosen as a finalist in the HVAC category of the CALA...

Carrier Launches Cold Climate Heat Pump with Maximum Efficiency and Low Noise

Carrier Launches Cold Climate Heat Pump with Maximum Efficiency and Low Noise

International. Carrier, a company belonging to Carrier Global Corporation, presented significant improvements in its heat pump technology designed for cold climates.

Expert Forum to Address Energy Efficiency and 4.0 Technologies in HVAC&R Systems

Expert Forum to Address Energy Efficiency and 4.0 Technologies in HVAC&R Systems

Colombia. On July 10, 2025, the specialized forum "Towards Energy Excellence in HVAC&R: ISO 50001, Technologies 4.0 and RETSIT" will be held, a space that will bring together experts and...

LG Electronics attributes lower-than-expected results to U.S. tariffs and market slowdown

LG Electronics attributes lower-than-expected results to U.S. tariffs and market slowdown

International. LG Electronics reported a preliminary operating profit of approximately $460 million for the second quarter of the year, a figure that not only disappointed the market, but...

Hisense highlights air conditioning innovation during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup

Hisense highlights air conditioning innovation during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup

United States. Hisense is creating unforgettable moments for fans during the 2025™ FIFA Club World Cup with its global "Own the Moment" campaign.

AFEC renews its Board of Directors and updates its statutes at its 2025 General Assembly

AFEC renews its Board of Directors and updates its statutes at its 2025 General Assembly

International. The meeting brought together 130 professionals from the HVAC sector in Girona to review results, redefine structures and project the future of air conditioning in Spain.

Technology, efficiency and innovation at the Virtual HVAC Pre-Congress 2025

Technology, efficiency and innovation at the Virtual HVAC Pre-Congress 2025

International. As a prelude to the Refriaméricas 2025Academic Congress, the Virtual HVAC Pre-Congress will be held on July 8, a free technical conference that will bring together experts and leading...

Chile leads with a gender focus in regional meeting on the Montreal Protocol

Chile leads with a gender focus in regional meeting on the Montreal Protocol

Costa Rica. Within the framework of the Meeting of Networks of National Ozone Officers of Latin America, held from June 17 to 19 and organized by the United Nations Environment Program, Chile stood...

Free Subscription
Remember Me
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
DO YOU NEED A SERVICE OR PRODUCT QUOTE?
LASTEST INTERVIEWS
SITE SPONSORS










LASTEST NEWSLETTER
Ultimo Info-Boletin