Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted Interior Design Factors and Energy E ciency in Residential Apartments: A Simulation-based Analysis using IES-VE. Case Study: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia(University of Reading, 2024-09-26) Binzain, Afnan; Essah, Emmanuel; Jones, RoryThis study offers a comprehensive analysis of how interior design factors contribute to the energy efficiency of residential buildings in Jeddah. The motivation behind this research stems from two factors: the increasing energy demand driven by population growth and climate change challenges, and the need for proactive measures to reduce energy consumption in residential buildings. Despite its importance, particularly during the use phase, the role of interior design in energy efficiency is rarely addressed in the literature. Four standard apartments were selected as case studies, all located in the same seven-story building. The objective of this research is to evaluate how interior design parameters—specifically artificial lighting, daylight exposure, and color choices—impact energy efficiency. This analysis is conducted using detailed architectural modeling and simulation with IES-VE software. The results of this study show that incorporating the following interior design factors can lead to significant energy savings: (1) optimizing the quantity, quality, and distribution of artificial lighting, (2) ensuring sufficient daylight illuminance with the use of double-glazed windows and shading devices, and (3) choosing high reflectance color schemes. Implementing these strategies can reduce lighting energy consumption by 23 percent, and total energy consumption by 3.4 percent to 4.6 percent annually. However, these results depend on maintaining sufficient space between buildings to allow for adequate daylight, which may require policy consideration. Therefore, one of the key recommendations of this paper is to make real estate developers aware of the importance of interior design features during the design and construction phases. Additionally, ensuring appropriate building distances in new districts is crucial to optimize daylight use and foster a more sustainable environment .21 0Item Restricted The Role of the Built Environment in Physical Activity Changes and Cardiometabolic Outcomes Among Lifestyle Modification Intervention Participants(University of Pittsburgh, 2023-06-28) Bu Saad, Mohammed; Rockette-Wagner, BonnyINTRODUCTION: More novel approaches to improve health outcomes for at-risk individuals are needed as type 2 diabetes grows. Neighborhood walkability and physical activity (PA) have been found to be related in adult population research. However, whether walkability influences people's ability to change their lifestyle behaviors and improve their cardiometabolic outcomes as a result of a lifestyle intervention is unknown. METHODS: We examined the association between neighborhood walkability and the six-month changes in (1) physical activity and (2) cardiometabolic outcomes among individuals at risk of diabetes using two cohorts of participants (n=390) who were enrolled in DPP-based community lifestyle interventions (DPP-GLB). In addition, for participants (n=221) undergoing a DPP-based online lifestyle intervention in primary care settings (OCELOT study), we examined participants’ success in (3) meeting a step counts/day equivalent of the program PA goal and the role of neighborhood walkability in PA achievement at 12 months post-intervention. Regression analyses were applied (1: linear; 2: linear and logistic; and 3: logistic). RESULTS: For DPP-GLB participants, self-reported baseline PA levels were positively associated with greater neighborhood walkability. Over 6 months of intervention neighborhood walkability was inversely associated with PA change. Living in a car-dependent neighborhood versus walkable neighborhood was associated with a statistically significant greater increase in self-reported PA, leading to reduced differences in PA levels across neighborhood walkability categories. Neighborhood walkability was also inversely related to improvements in insulin and blood glucose, but positively associated with blood pressure improvements. In the OCELOT cohort, pedometer-measured PA goal achievement did not differ across the study arms (VLM-S: standard coaching; VLM-M: modulated coaching; OGR: control arm). Regarding PA goal achievement by neighborhood walkability, participants living in walkable neighborhoods (Very Walkable and Walker's Paradise) were more likely to meet the PA goal than those living in car-dependent neighborhoods. CONCLUSIONS: This dissertation provides valuable evidence regarding the association between neighborhood walkability and PA goal achievement and changes in cardiometabolic outcomes among adults at risk for or with T2DM while participating in a lifestyle intervention. These results suggest that prevention programs should incorporate contextual factors of participants' neighborhoods in their program materials and start considering multi-level intervention approaches.21 0