The article analyzes the heat-shielding properties of typical curtain-type ventilated façade (hereinafter referred to as CVF) systems used on multi-storey residential buildings in Moscow. We conducted analytical and visual studies, evaluated the technical condition by external features, including photographing the detected defects, thermographic scanning of facades, and took selective measurements of external geometric parameters, distortions, and structural properties for 18 objects in the city of Moscow. The level of defects in the thermal insulation layer at Moscow facilities was at least 50%. A gap of 10 mm at the joint of insulation slabs reduces the heat-shielding properties of the CVF fragment of the outer wall by 14.5–15%. The conclusions were drawn on the basis of the results of calculations of the reduced heat transfer resistance of a total of 18 CVF options from two manufacturers of the Kaptekhnostroy (aluminum CVFS subsystem) and Alfa-Prof (galvanized CVF subsystem) systems. When comparing these solutions, it is obvious that they are all inferior in value reduced resistance to heat transfer of the composite facade thermal insulation system. If the foundation is made of monolithic reinforced concrete or brickwork, the choice of finishing material does not matter. Moreover, the indicators of the reduced heat transfer resistance do not differ significantly. In the case of a base made of expanded clay concrete blocks, the galvanized steel subsystem is 2.9% (ceramic granite), 4.3% (fiber cement) and 4.6% (composite) more efficient.

Keywords: curtain-type facade system, ventilated, facing slabs, fasteners, defects, inspection, heat transfer resistance

Currently, the energy efficiency of buildings is one of the most pressing economic and environmental problems. Reducing energy costs not only minimizes building maintenance costs, but also reduces the negative impact on the environment. This article deals with the problem of increasing the energy efficiency of the enclosing structures of polyclinic buildings and proposes a method for measuring the economic efficiency of the proposed enclosing structures of municipal polyclinics in Moscow. The implementation of an energy-efficient project for the reconstruction of polyclinic buildings requires an integrated approach, which includes the selection of optimal materials and structures, a thorough analysis and calculation of energy efficiency by measuring the savings in heat loss after the reconstruction of buildings. The implementation of this approach will reduce heat loss and increase the comfort of staying inside the buildings.

Keywords: energy efficiency, heat losses, reconstruction, enclosing structures, medical and healthcare institutions

The article analyzes the survey results of standard curtain walls with air space (hereinafter – CWs), used in construction industry in the city of Moscow. Despite a large number of advantages, curtain wall ventilated systems have a number of disadvantages, resulting, on the one hand, from the design solution of the CW: heterogeneity, shrinkage and deformation of the insulation layers, water penetration through the lining cracks, etc. On the other hand, failure to meet the CW technology and insufficient development of regulatory support for the design, installation and maintenance of CWs lead to a decrease in their quality. For a number of survey objects, a discrepancy between design and technical solutions was revealed: for the material of the supporting structures; for the material of the brackets; for the material of self-tapping screws; for the material of facing plates. Based on the survey results, it was revealed that it is inappropriate to use facing elements made of fiber cement boards in order to prevent their collapse and ensure the safety of people near the wall systems. Also, it is not advisable to use ""TYVEK House Wrap"" (1060) wind and hydroprotective membranes for installation from the outer surface of the thermal insulation of buildings due to their fire hazard.

Keywords: hinged facade systems, ventilated, facing plates, fasteners, defects, testing, displacement, cracks, chipping, deformation

The paper provides an overview of research in the field of modeling the heights of urban areas. The diversification of building heights leads to an uneven distribution of urban climate parameters. Building height maps can help improve urban management. The reviewed papers outline methods for urban scale modeling based on image recognition. Urban geometric models are built for the cities of the United Arab Emirates, China, Germany, and Japan. The research shows that both radar and optical models can be used to predict building height, but a synergistic combination of both data sources produces the best results. However, there is currently no globally agreed spatially detailed survey of the distribution and concentration of the building stock. Understanding of vertical urbanization should complement the horizontal urbanization and help sustainable land use and urban planning.

Keywords: high-rise buildings, urbanization, urban scale modeling, urban morphology, urban microclimate, Google Earth, air flow, thermal environment, wind environment, calculation of building heights

Currently, urbanization causes an increase in urban density and creates new opportunities for the socio-economic development of society. However, urban development changes the natural relief: it increases the roughness of the underlying surface (for example, it forms basins against the background of a flat relief), it includes many vertical surfaces, and creates rugged terrain. It results in the formation of urban heat and dry islands; it changes the precipitation rate,their frequency and intensity. Thermal conditions of cities are varied within the city itself, and the study of diversification of the intra-urban microclimate is of extreme importance for well-being of citizens and assessing the real energy demand of buildings. This requires new approached to modeling the urban microclimate, since the a set of different factors influence its changes and developement.

Keywords: urban microclimate, urban density, environment, solar radiation, aeration regime, thermal conditions, urban heat island, wind speed, building, urbanization

Improvement of energy efficiency of buildings by minimizing heat loss inside the premises and optimizing energy consumption is an urgent problem. The solution of the problem requires consideration of the impact of climatic factors on buildings - firstly, it is necessary to ensure safe thermal insulation of external walls, and secondly, to use effective thermal insulation materials. Being essentially volumetric geometric figures of various shapes, buildings react differently to climatic factors, as their heat resistance directly depends on the shapes and volumes. The article analyzes the dependence of the heat resistance of urban buildings on their geometric shapes and volumes. Using the example of the Evolution Tower of the Moscow International Business Center Moscow-City, the heat loss of rooms located on floors with different heights was calculated and changes in the main climatic factors in terms of the height of the object were revealed.

Keywords: buildings, heat loss, energy consumption, heat resistance, energy efficiency, enclosing structures, urban environment, thermal insulation, design, natural and climatic factors

The paper analyzes the conditions for the formation of a microclimate of urban residential area with high-rise buildings. High-rise buildings in big cities have a double influence on the living environment – on the one hand, they change wind loads, and on the other hand they affect the direction and speed of the wind. The environmentally unfavorable zones of high-rise buildings, as well as the causes and sources of pollution, such as emerging transport and engineering infrastructure due to development of high-rise housing, have been identified. In high-rise housing areas, zones with impaired air exchange, which contribute to the formation of the “heat island”, have been indicated.

Keywords: urbanization; ecology; high-rise building; urban development; heat island; ascending air flow; temperature inversion; microclimatic conditions; terrain aerodynamics; living environment