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    Papers in International JournalsChapters/ Papers in International BooksChapters/ Papers in National BooksCommunications in International ConferencesCommunications in National ConferencesMSc ThesesBooksProceedingsPatentsTechnical/ Scientific ReportsPhD Theses
    @JournalArticle {2523,
    	title = {Early Stage Design Decisions: The Way to Achieve Sustainable Buildings at Lower Costs},
    	journal = {The Scientific World Journal},
    	volume = {2014},
    	year = {2014},
    	month = {2014-01-22 00:00:00},
    	pages = {1-8},
    	publisher = {Hindawi},
    	abstract = {

    The construction industry attempts to produce buildings with as lower environmental impact as possible. However, construction activities still greatly affect environment; therefore, it is necessary to consider a sustainable project approach based on its performance. Sustainability is an important issue to consider in design, not only due to environmental concerns but also due to economic and social matters, promoting architectural quality and economic advantages. This paper aims to identify the phases through which a design project should be developed, emphasising the importance and ability of earlier stages to influence sustainability, performance, and life cycle cost. Then, a selection of sustainability key indicators, able to be used at the design conceptual phase and able to start predicting environmental sustainability performance of buildings is presented. The output of this paper aimed to enable designers to compare and evaluate the consequences of different design solutions, based on preliminary data, and facilitate the collaboration between stakeholders and clients and eventually yield a sustainable and high performance building throughout its life cycle.

    }, keywords = {life cycle., Sustainability, Sustainable Buildings}, issn = {2356-6140; 1537-744X}, doi = {10.1155/2014/365364. }, author = {Bragan{\c c}a, L. and Vieira, S. M. and Andrade, J. B.} }

    About CTAC

    The Centre for Territory, Environment and Construction (CTAC) is a research unit of the School of Engineering of University of Minho (UMinho), recognised by the “FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia” (Foundation for Science and Technology), associated to the Department of Civil Engineering (DEC), with whom it shares resources and namely human resources.

    Currently CTAC aggregates 24 researchers holding a PhD of which 20 are faculty professors of the Civil Engineering Department. Read more


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    Centro de Território, Ambiente e Construção
    Escola de Engenharia da Universidade do Minho
    Campus de Azurém
    4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal

    Phone: + 351 253 510 200 (517 206)
    Fax: + 351 253 510 217

    Email: geral@ctac.uminho.pt


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