Mix Sustentável

ATTRIBUTES THAT PROVIDE QUALITY TO PUBLIC OPEN SPACES FOR THE OLDER ADULTS WALKING FOR LEISURE: A REVIEW

2025-01-18T14:12:12+00:00

Regular physical activity is essential to improve and maintain the mental and physical health of the elderly and its practice is associated with the potential of urban open spaces. In order to support design and management of these urban spaces to be attractive to the elderly the central aim of this paper is to identify, through a systematic review of the literature, the attributes that provide quality to public open spaces for the walking for leisure of the elderly. The results showed that the spaces that observe the mobility limitations of the elderly allowing better accessibility conditions and the natural aspect of the environment are attributes desired by the elderly that appeared more frequently in the analyzed studies (they appeared in almost two thirds of them). Then there are the safety conditions and the quality of the sidewalks, mentioned in a little more than half of the studies. The proximity of these urban spaces to the elderly's residence, together with the relationship with water and infrastructure consisting of a walking path and the presence of benches, appeared in third place in the analyzed studies.

SUSTAINABLE HOUSING RESETTLEMENT MODEL IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL: ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

2025-06-15T20:10:00+00:00

Social inequality often forces vulnerable populations to occupy high-risk areas, compromising their well-being and degrading the environment. This study proposed a sustainable housing model for the residents of the Passo Fundo community in Lages, Santa Catarina, who currently occupy a flood-prone area irregularly. The proposed model is based on a modular house equipped with rainwater harvesting systems, photovoltaic panels, and solar collectors. Economic feasibility was analyzed, and the model was environmentally compared to conventional housing options. The results demonstrated that implementing one or more green technologies aligns with the housing financing criteria, making it accessible to the target population. The environmental impact analysis highlighted the severe negative impacts associated with the residents’ current conditions, but showed a substantial reduction in these impacts with the adoption of the proposed model. Ultimately, the study successfully presented a social housing model that balances environmental and economic aspects, offering a practical solution for improving living conditions in vulnerable communities.

NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION

2025-08-04T16:40:41+00:00

As the impacts of climate change become more evident and devastating, the search for effective approaches to address these challenges is crucial. This article discusses the importance of Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) in the adaptation to and mitigation of climate change. NbS offer a promising approach, utilizing natural ecosystems and biological processes to address climate problems. This study reviews the current scientific literature and finds the significant role of NbS in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting against extreme weather events, and promoting the resilience of vulnerable communities and biodiversity. Some of the reviewed studies have assessed that NbS could provide approximately 30% of the global climate mitigation required by 2030/2050 to achieve the Paris Agreement target of a 1.5/2°C temperature increase; reduce the intensity of climate and meteorological hazards by 26%; and that the evidence for NbS in adaptation is largely related to reducing exposure to the immediate impacts of climate change.

SUSTAINABILITY IN THE URBAN MOBILITY PLAN OF SÃO JOSÉ DOS CAMPOS: STRATEGIES FOR MICROMOBILITY AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

2025-05-30T13:42:53+00:00

In 2003, Brazil's National Urban Mobility Policy adopted the principles of sustainable urban Mobility at which the Urban Mobility Master Plan (PlanMob) is an instrument for implementing this at municipal level. In this context, this article analyses whether the Urban Mobility Plan for São José dos Campos incorporates the principles of sustainability, based on guidelines aimed at prioritizing active modes of transport and public transport. The methodology, which is exploratory and descriptive, is comprised of 23 themes that interfere with the municipal urban mobility policy and the implementation of actions aimed at sustainable development. The results show that the municipality has incorporated the principles of sustainability through programs such as “Vou de Bike”, the expansion of the cycling network and the Green Line project, which reinforce the city's commitment to more sustainable mobility. These actions contribute to environmental sustainability by promoting more efficient and low impact commuting alternatives, as well as allowing São José dos Campos to consolidate itself as a model of innovation and efficiency, which was recognized in 2022, when the city was awarded the title of smart city.

PROJECTION OF FUTURE CLIMATE SCENARIOS FOR THE METROPOLITAN REGION OF THE CUIABÁ RIVER VALLEY - AN ANALYSIS OF THE URBANIZATION PROCESS

2025-08-04T16:52:13+00:00

This study analyzes the impacts of climate change in the Metropolitan Region of the Cuiabá River Valley (RMVRC), projecting the behavior of future maximum temperatures in the face of advancing urbanization. With a population of over one million people and a semi-humid tropical climate, the region faces a worrying scenario, where projections indicate a significant increase in temperature, which could reach up to 10 °C by the end of the century. The research uses data from the CNRM-ESM2-1 climate model, coupled with the SSP370 scenario obtained by the WorldClim platform, analyzing the evolution of maximum temperatures in the periods 2021-2040, 2041-2060, 2061-2080, 2081-2100. The results indicate that the urbanized areas of Baixada Cuiabana, are likely to experience more intense warming, with average annual maximum temperatures reaching up to 38 °C by 2100. Furthermore, the analysis of the percentage increase in relation to historical climate data shows that the months of climate transition may become even drier and hotter, intensifying the region's vulnerability. This scenario reinforces the importance of public policies for urban planning and adaptive solutions and mitigation strategies, aiming to reduce the impacts of climate change, protect the environment and guarantee the population's quality of life

ENHANCING THERMAL EFFICIENCY AND COMFORT WITH GREEN FAÇADES IN AFFORDABLE HOUSINGS IN SUBTROPICAL CLIMATE

2025-08-26T20:23:58+00:00

The study investigates the thermal efficiency and indoor comfort of green façades in affordable housing units located in Santa Maria, southern Brazil. Over the course of one year, six housing units were monitored to evaluate summer performance, with five units incorporating green façades and one serving as a control unit without vegetation. Data collection focused on climate parameters, such as air temperature and relative humidity, recorded every 15 minutes using thermal sensors and thermographic imaging. The results reveal that the green façades significantly enhanced thermal performance by reducing surface temperatures and improving indoor thermal comfort. The maximum observed temperature difference between units with green façades and the control unit reached 12.6 C. The thermographic images visually validated these findings, visually confirming the cooling effect. Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET) analyses further demonstrated increased thermal comfort in green façade units, with the highest PET difference of 6.5 ºC recorded on February 24. The findings advocate for broader adoption of green façades in social housing in any geographic location, emphasizing their role in addressing environmental challenges, improving energy efficiency, and promoting occupant well-being in urban settings.

CHARACTERIZATION OF A BINARY ALKALI-ACTIVATED SYSTEM BASED ON CERAMIC WASTE AND METAKAOLIN

2025-08-20T14:36:41+00:00

The red ceramics industry is a significant generator of solid waste, which can be reused in construction to reduce the consumption of natural resources and lower CO₂ emissions associated with Portland cement production. However, red ceramic waste (RCW) as a precursor in alkali-activated materials remains underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate a binary mixture of RCW and metakaolin (MK) for producing alkali-activated cements. Four pastes were prepared with varying proportions of RCW and MK. In the fresh state, mini-slump tests, setting time measurements, and fresh density determinations were performed. In the hardened state, compressive strength was evaluated at 7, 28, and 91 days, along with water absorption. Additionally, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis was conducted. The paste composed of 100% RCW exhibited the greatest spread (94.5 mm), whereas the mixture with 75% MK and 25% RCW achieved the highest compressive strength of 42.79 MPa at 7 days. SEM analysis revealed the formation of binder gels, confirming the viability of using RCW and MK in alkali-activated cement pastes.

DESIGN FOR CIRCULAR ECONOMY: DESK ORGANIZER WITH RECYCLED POLYMER

2025-06-25T19:40:29+00:00

The issue of sustainability is increasingly present in discussions about production and consumption. In this context, polymeric materials raise serious concerns, being considered one of the most harmful to the environment due to their slow degradation. However, as a highly versatile and relatively inexpensive material, polymers make up a large part of everyday objects. Due to the concern generated by the often incorrect disposal of their waste, efforts are being made to find ways to change this. One viable approach to mitigating environmental challenges is the adoption of the circular economy, which aims to reintegrate materials into the production cycle. Design, in this context, plays a key role by designing products in such a way as to minimize their disposal as much as possible. This paper presents the development of a line of desk organizers made from recycled polymer. The post-consumer material was crushed and pressed into sheets and used to create the products. Therefore, mechanical recycling was presented as a possible resource for recovering polymers and using them as raw materials for the production of new artifacts in the context of the circular economy.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW : WOOD-PLASTIC COMPOSITES AS SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR COMPOSITE STRUCTURES

2025-06-27T14:24:21+00:00

This paper reviews recent advances in wood-plastic composites (WPC) research to explore their potential in composite structures. Utilizing the Systematic Search Flow methodology, the composition, production strategies, and physical-mechanical performance of WPC were analyzed. The extrusion process, whether isolated or combined with other methods, stands out for thermoplastic-based WPC, allowing continuous production and high processing rates. Polypropylene is commonly used as a matrix, combined with residual fibrous fillers that enhance stiffness and strength but also increase water absorption. The use of compatibilizing agents can mitigate this absorption and improve mechanical performance. The manual hand layup method is prevalent for thermoset composites, offering longer handling times and resulting in dimensional stability and thermal resistance; however, it heavily relies on the operator's skill, limiting process consistency. The versatility of WPC positions them as a promising solution for construction, addressing plastic waste pollution and deforestation. Nonetheless, further research is needed to enhance durability and performance while exploring new materials and techniques. This study comprehensively covers these aspects, employing graphical tools to illustrate the complexities involved and providing in-depth analyses of how these factors influence the physical-mechanical behavior of WPC.