• Energy Research
• Closed Access close
• Open Source close
• Embargo close
• 11. Sustainability close
• Energy and Buildings close

Abstract The central role of occupants for achieving energy savings in residential buildings is increasingly recognised. Simulation programmes able to take into account occupant behaviour are considered to be powerful tools for bridging the gap between the predicted and the actual energy consumption for new buildings. Nevertheless, the majority of residential buildings that will constitute the housing stock in 2050 have already been built today, therefore occupant behaviour and building simulation tools need to be fully exploited for supporting the renovation of existing housing stock. The aim of this paper is to explore the role of occupant behaviour modelling in supporting decision-makers dealing with the design of renovation strategies for residential buildings. An Italian multi-family public housing building is assumed as case study to estimate the influence of three dimensions linked with occupant behaviour – management of the thermostat, management of the heating system, variation of building characteristics – on energy heating consumption. The results show that, while the occupant behaviour influences the heating loads up to 1/3 in case of high level of building retrofit, the less the building is renovated, the higher is the behavioural impact in absolute terms of energy reduction. Therefore, in order to be effective, renovation strategies are required to design appropriate informative instruments at an early stage to support behaviour changes towards responsible energy consumption.

The TOBUS software has been developed to facilitate the implementation of the TOBUS building diagnosis and decision-making method for retrofit studies. This user-friendly software runs under the Windows® operating system and includes several modules, each of which addresses a particular aspect of the diagnosis including: building description, dimensions, cost coefficients, building diagnosis of current physical state and functional obsolescence, indoor environmental quality (IEQ), energy use, elaboration of retrofit scenarios, cost analysis, reporting results. The software also includes comprehensive databases on the physical state of degradation, including hundreds of illustrations, retrofit work details, cost, etc.

Abstract There are many immediate adverse effects on the environment such as large amount of greenhouse gases and pollutants emissions from the burning of fossil fuels for electricity generation. Photovoltaic (PV) systems are promising solar energy applications to generate electricity without emitting pollutants and requiring no fuel. In modern urban cities, most buildings are high-rise with limited spaces for PV system installation, the concept of building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) would be an appropriate alternative form of the application. This paper studies a medium size grid-connected BIPV system mounted in an institutional building. Technical data including solar radiation and energy output were analyzed. The operational performance and electricity benefits of the BIPV system were examined in terms of cost, energy and environmental aspects. The monetary, embodied energy and greenhouse gas payback periods were estimated and reported. To shorten the payback periods, the BIPV system should incorporate with more passive energy-efficient architecture designs. This on-site measurement contributes the most accurate method of obtaining reliable data for determining the performance of various designs under the actual operating environments for evaluation.

This article concerns a field study about the use of non-invasive manual lighting and shading control to save energy in listed buildings. The system was chosen to limit cabling and masonry work. The test room consists of an individual office located in a historical building in Southern Italy. The room was retrofitted with two roller shades (semi-transparent and blackout) and six LED-based pendants provided with step-dimming and three Correlated Colour Temperature options. Shading and lighting could be remotely controlled from the desk by six subjects who took part in the test for two weeks each. Behavioural interventions and a set back to default setting at the end of the working day were adopted to improve the test subjects’ energy behaviour. The results show that energy for lighting could be reduced between 15% and 71% compared to European benchmark, with wide range accounting for variability of individual preference and weather conditions. The savings are due to the computer-based work, the communication and engagement campaign, as well as the default settings. The findings suggest that simple manually controlled systems are energy and economic viable solution for listed buildings, since the system accommodates users’ needs, and proper training is provided to the users.

a b s t r a c t Fans are the most widespread system used to implement forced convection ventilation for double glazed facades (DGF). However, the implementation of fans in a facade require an electrical supply for the motors, solid supports for the fans, and the installation has to meet fire safety regulations required by local laws. These facts, added to the need of a regular maintenance program for the fans and the possibility of noise and vibration generated by the moving parts of these equipment, might increase the final cost of the facade and reduce the comfort inside the building. In this paper the feasibility of using nozzles for DGF ventilation is evaluated. The nozzles selected for this study are based on the Coand˘ effect. For this investigation, a CFD model was used to simulate a Coand˘ nozzle. The modeled nozzle was simulated for different flow rate conditions and velocity and pressure fields obtained in the nozzle outlet were imposed as an inlet boundary condition in an upper crossed lateral ventilation model for a DGF. Results obtained for heat flux, and reductions in solar gain loads for different operating conditions were obtained and compared against previous results for vertical and horizontal DGF ventilation in a similar geometry.

The introduction of natural gas in the Greek energy market broadened the options in the field of space heating. Residents in five major Greek cities can choose from a variety of different fuels and systems for heating their houses or working spaces; 12 more cities will be connected to the gas network within the next 5 years. Considering that space heating is the major energy consuming activity in the Greek building sector and that the environmental constrains imposed by the Kyoto protocol will be met only with difficulty, if at all, a strategy concerning the developments in space heating seems to be necessary. This however presupposes an elaborate analysis of the overall performance of the alternative systems, taking into consideration the particular conditions of the Greek energy system and the ‘established’ way of designing residential and mixed-use buildings. The present paper aims to present the empirical comparative results related to the three most popular heating systems operated in Greek multi-apartment and mixed-use buildings, which use three different fuels, respectively: a central oil-fired boiler, a unitary gas-fired boiler and unitary heat pumps.

Abstract Previous studies indicate electricity consumption is increasing in new and green buildings highlighting the importance of investigating parameters affecting that increase. The majority of previous studies also focused on studying commercial or residential buildings emphasizing the need to study energy consumption in other building types. This study analyzed historical energy consumption data in a representative sample of thirty schools in Manitoba, Canada. It showed that the decrease in gas consumption for heating in new schools was counteracted by a statistically significant increase in their electricity consumption. Three cases study schools were selected for further analysis of their electricity consumption. Within each school, one classroom, the gymnasium, as well as spaces with significant community use, were sub-metered to collect real-time electricity consumption data. Results indicated total electricity consumption increased in the newest school, although sub-metered spaces in older schools consumed more electricity. Variations in electricity consumption between sub-metered spaces were attributed to occupant behaviour. The study is the first to provide an in-depth investigation of electricity consumption in Canadian school buildings and consider the potential effect of typically overlooked parameters such as occupant behaviour on their overall energy consumption.

Abstract Do energy efficient buildings save energy or spare it for other uses? Cost-effective energy efficiency improvements increase the available income of a household, or business. The increase of household income may be re-spent on the same energy service or elsewhere in the economy, or invested. This problematic, termed “rebound effect”, receives renewed attention. Its micro- and macroeconomic implications can in part explain why governmental energy efficiency programmes failed to reduce total energy needs in our societies. This paper identifies zero energy buildings (ZEBs) as both a solution and a contributor to this energy efficiency paradox. The E2 (economy–environment) vector is used to qualitatively illustrate the rebound effect link to energy efficient and zero energy buildings. The paper argues that a robust energy balance, one that shall ensure ZEBs effectively contribute to the global mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, needs to address this paradox of energy efficiency. The paper proposes ways to do so.

Abstract Further advance of glazed, healthy building's energy efficiency and sustainability is inextricable linked to the building's envelopes/facades fundamental physics study related to the dynamic control of sunlight and optimal control of solar heat gains. Relevant mathematical models and algorithms, as well as infrastructure/hardware and software integrated performance prediction and validation are studied. Reviewed is the most recent analytical and experimental research, current state of science and art, as well as some of the on-going R&D at the edge of new breakthroughs of the healthy buildings daylighting dynamic control's performance prediction and validation. It has been shown that, concerning the variability of the solar radiation spectra incident on the building's envelope, and also variability of outdoor and indoor air temperature differences, it is necessary tuning control of glazing's transmittance dependence on the solar radiation wavelength, with an aim to optimize daylighting with the reference to people needs (their health and comfort), and energy (thermal and electrical loads minimization). Finally, presented are elements of an analytical modeling approach, as initial results of study, aimed to reach a challenging research goal – Tuning control of buildings Glazing's transmittance dependence on the solar radiation wavelength to optimize daylighting and building's energy efficiency.