• Energy Research

The enhancement of energy performance of buildings has become a pillar of energy policies. The main target is the cut of energy consumption to reduce buildings footprint. This aim is pursued by introducing constrains on building requirements in terms of properties of basic materials and components and exploitation of renewable energy sources. That results in the definition of the zero-energy building (ZEB) concept. The new paradigm introduced new challenges and, at the same time, involved all the different stakeholders in facing the barriers to the diffusion of the novel solutions proposed by the research development. This paper summarizes the actual state-of-art of whole performance of ZEBs and the related technical solutions, analysing their increasing potential in energy consumption. A collection of the different case studies reported in literature involving ZEBs is presented, compiling an analysis of the performance of the common solutions actually applied. The technologies involved are described discussing their impact in meeting the ZEB requirements. A debate is proposed, pointing out the main aspects deserving further investigations and outlining the critical elements in making the zero-energy target the new standard for the buildings.

Abstract During the studies carried out at the Institute for Building Technology of the National Research Council (ICITE), a method has been developed to analyse the energy performance of passive solar components in the building industry by using test cells that simulate a conventional dwelling environment. The paper describes the tested components, the experimental analysis of energy performance that has been carried out, the complementary analysis performed, and the obtained results.

The Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) refers to the quality of indoor spaces in relation to the health and well-being of users. IEQ is a holistic concept considering various components of the overall indoor comfort: thermo-hygrometric, lighting, air quality and acoustics. Each component is described through specific performance indicators and benchmarks. The quality of the built environment is assessed at different stages from design to operational phase. The scientific literature reports several case studies related to the assessment of the individual components of the IEQ Tools aimed at the evaluation of the overall IEQ. The paper proposes an assessment tool based on the SB Method (Sustainable Building Method) and the Multi Criteria Analysis for the evaluation of IEQ during the operational phase of a building. Each component of IEQ is analysed through objective indicators and calculation methods. The tool provides two main outcomes: a global score expressing the overall performance of the building from the IEQ perspective; quantitative evaluations of all indoor comfort components through monitoring and measurement of the environmental variables. The above contributes to select intervention areas to optimize indoor design and to identify technologies aimed at ensuring the best IEQ levels for users at the operational stage. The system was applied to an open-plan working space of an office building. Monitoring activities and measurements are carried out to detect the indoor and outdoor variables affecting the IEQ. All aspects of IEQ were analysed and quantified so to evaluate the overall performance of the building and provide data to improve the working conditions.

The work described in this paper was aimed at comparing two different testing methodologies, set up in order to define performance properties and reliability of passive or hybrid solar components. The former facility is based on the use of outdoor real-size Test Cells, designed to simulate a conventional living environment with a thermal mass distributed approximately in the same way as in a real dwelling. The latter uses an indoor real-size test cell reproducing a common piece of a dwelling; such a cell can assume various spatial arrangements and simulate in a cyclic way any temperature conditions and solar input on the walls under test. Experiments on a same opaque multilayer component were run with both facilities and the comparison of the obtained results are given; the good agreement of the efficiency values and the analysis of the most important working parameters of the tested component points out the effectiveness and the peculiarity of both methodologies.

The main objective of this research is that of verifying the ability of PMMA prismatic sheets to act as sunlight dousers in civil architecture, by means of the optical effect called "total internal reflection". The behavior of these devices has been calculated theoretically with a computerized calculation programme and experimentally investigated with a light transmission apparatus, designed and built to this purpose. Other apparatuses have also built to test the performance of these prismatic sheets, assembled in a real size architectural component, in controlling sunlight admission into dwellings. This paper describes the work done for the design and construction of the testing apparatuses and give results of the behavior of the prismatic sheets tested on the light transmission apparatus.

Abstract The development of studies of the applications of solar energy suggests that it would be interesting to use passive solar components in the building industry. During the studies carried out as part of the Finalized Energy Project at the Building Technology Institute of the National Council of Research, a method has been developed for analysing the energy performance of passive solar components in the building industry by using test cells that simulate a conventional living environment. In this paper the authors compare the experimentally analysed performance of two passive components: an attached sunspace and a window. The paper describes the components tested, the experimental analyses of energy performance carried out, the complementary analyses performed and the results obtained. Finally the results are discussed, with an analysis of both the explanations of the results and of recommended modifications and improvements to be made to the systems in question.