Structural Assessment for Improving Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings

• Pages: 21-28

21

Balkan Journal of

Interdisciplinary Research

E-ISSN 2411-9725

ISSN 2410-759X

Vol.10 No.1

May, 2024

Structural Assessment for Improving Energy Eciency in Public Buildings

Diana Lluka

Polytechnic University of Tirana, Albania

DOI: hps://doi.org/10.2478/bjir-2024-0002

Abstract

This paper explores the pivotal role of structural assessment in enhancing energy eciency

within public buildings. Structural assessment, a systematic evaluation of building components

and systems, is essential for ensuring safety, longevity, and sustainability. By identifying

weaknesses and improvement opportunities, structural assessment provides valuable insights

for stakeholders to enhance operational eciency and compliance with safety standards.

The symbiotic relationship between structural integrity and energy eciency underscores the

signicance of prioritizing structural considerations in sustainable building design. Material

selection, design principles, and maintenance practices are crucial factors inuencing energy

performance. Structural assessments aid in pinpointing critical issues contributing to energy

loss, such as air leaks, thermal bridging, and inadequate insulation. Recommendations derived

from these assessments enable targeted interventions to improve energy performance and

occupant comfort.

Case studies of three schools highlight the tangible benets of energy eciency retrots

informed by structural assessments. These retrots result in signicant reductions in energy

consumption, enhanced indoor comfort, and a diminished carbon footprint. A structured

strategy for conducting seismic structural assessments and subsequent energy eciency

improvements is proposed, emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive approach to

building sustainability.

In conclusion, structural assessment serves as a linchpin for advancing energy eciency in

public buildings. By leveraging insights from structural assessments, stakeholders can drive

transformative change towards a greener and more sustainable future, fostering environments

that promote human well-being and environmental stewardship.

Keywords: Structural Assessment, Energy Eciency, Public Buildings.

1. Introduction

Structural assessment stands at the nexus of ensuring the safety, longevity, and sus-

tainability of built environments. In its essence, structural assessment entails a metic-

ulous evaluation of building components and systems, aimed at identifying potential

1

Vol. 9 No.2

September, 2023

Balkan Journal of Interdisciplinary Research

IIPCCL Publishing, Graz-Austria

E-ISSN 2411-9725

ISSN 2410-759X

Research Article

© 2023 Ardita Abazi Imeri

This is an open access article licensed under the Creative Commons

Aribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

(hps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

Deliberating in the Gray Zone: North Macedonia’s Hybrid Regime and

Deliberative Democracy Exercise

Ardita Abazi Imeri

European Policy Institute (EPI) – Skopje

DOI: hps://doi.org/10.2478/bjir-2023-0001

Abstract

Deliberative polling has emerged as a promising method for promoting democratic reform

and citizen engagement in various contexts, however, its potential and limitations in hybrid

regimes, where democratic governance is challenged by a mix of democratic and authoritarian

features, remain relatively unexplored. This paper focuses on the case of North Macedonia,

as a country that has undergone signicant political and societal transformation especially in

the recent years. Despite eorts to promote democratic reforms, the country continues to face

challenges in terms of ensuring democratic governance and citizen participation. In a hybrid

regime, like North Macedonia’s, political leaders might not be inclined to value citizens’

input, and the media environment might not be free from inuence, which limits access to

varied and reliable sources of information. Civil society organizations may also encounter

limitations on their operations, and institutional assistance may be insucient. Additionally,

the population’s diversity could make it dicult to reach and build trust with citizens. In

this context, deliberative polling represents an opportunity to engage citizens in meaningful

political dialogue and institutional reform. This paper examines the potential of deliberative

polling as a tool for promoting governance in North Macedonia and highlights the challenges

and limitations faced in this process.

Keywords: deliberative poll, hybrid regime, authoritarian, democracy.

1. Introduction

Democracy around the world is in crisis. In general, the state of democracy world-

wide indicates a lack of progress (Economist Intelligence Unit, 2022). Looking at the

global picture, 2022 fell short of expectations for democracy, as it was anticipated that

the lifting of pandemic-related restrictions might result in an improvement in the

overall score. Both the Freedom House Report 2022 and the Economist Intelligence

Unit’s Democracy Index (EIU) 2022 indicate that the state of democracy around the

world is facing signicant challenges and setbacks.

Research Article

© 2024 Diana Lluka

This is an open access article licensed under the Creative Commons

Aribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

(hps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)