Energy performance contracts in the municipal sector in Norway: overcoming barriers to energy savings?

In this work, we present results from the largest study of measured, whole-building energy performance for commercial LEED-certified buildings, using 2016 energy use data that were obtained for 4417 commercial office buildings (114 million m2) from municipal energy benchmarking disclosures for 10 major U.S. cities. The properties included 551 buildings (31 million m2) that we identified as LEED-certified. Annual energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission were compared between LEED and non-LEED offices on a city-by-city basis and in aggregate. In aggregate, LEED offices demonstrated 11% site energy savings but only 7% savings in source energy and GHG emission. LEED offices saved 26% in non-electric energy but demonstrated no significant savings in electric energy. LEED savings in GHG and source energy increased to 10% when compared with newer, non-LEED offices. We also compared the measured energy savings for individual buildings with their projected savings, as determined by LEED points awarded for energy optimization. This analysis uncovered minimal correlation, i.e., an R2 < 1% for New Construction (NC) and Core and Shell (CS), and 8% for Existing Euildings (EB). The total measured site energy savings for LEED-NC and LEED-CS was 11% lower than projected while the total measured source energy savings for LEED-EB was 81% lower than projected. Only LEED offices certified at the gold level demonstrated statistically significant savings in source energy and greenhouse gas emissions as compared with non-LEED offices.

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Minimal Monitoring of Improvements in Energy Performance after Envelope Renovation in Subsidized Single Family Housing in Madrid

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13010235 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 235

Author(s):

Fernando Martín-Consuegra ◽

Fernando de Frutos ◽

Ignacio Oteiza ◽

Carmen Alonso ◽

Borja Frutos

Keyword(s):

Energy Efficiency ◽

Energy Savings ◽

Low Cost ◽

Energy Performance ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Urban Setting ◽

Single Family ◽

Nineteen Fifties ◽

Environment Quality ◽

Urban Complex

This study quantified the improvement in energy efficiency following passive renovation of the thermal envelope in highly inefficient residential complexes on the outskirts of the city of Madrid. A case study was conducted of a single-family terrace housing, representative of the smallest size subsidized dwellings built in Spain for workers in the nineteen fifties and sixties. Two units of similar characteristics, one in its original state and the other renovated, were analyzed in detail against their urban setting with an experimental method proposed hereunder for simplified, minimal monitoring. The dwellings were compared on the grounds of indoor environment quality parameters recorded over a period covering both winter and summer months. That information was supplemented with an analysis of the energy consumption metered. The result was a low-cost, reasonably accurate measure of the improvements gained in the renovated unit. The monitoring output data were entered in a theoretical energy efficiency model for the entire neighborhood to obtain an estimate of the potential for energy savings if the entire urban complex were renovated.

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Energy Performance Assessment of Innovative Building Solutions Coming from Construction and Demolition Waste Materials

Materials ◽

10.3390/ma14051226 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (5) ◽

pp. 1226

Author(s):

Beatriz Fraga-De Cal ◽

Antonio Garrido-Marijuan ◽

Olaia Eguiarte ◽

Beñat Arregi ◽

Ander Romero-Amorrortu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Thermal Insulation ◽

Energy Demand ◽

Energy Savings ◽

Flow Analysis ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Energy Performance ◽

Construction And Demolition Waste ◽

The European Union ◽

Demolition Waste ◽

The Impact

Prefabricated solutions incorporating thermal insulation are increasingly adopted as an energy conservation measure for building renovation. The InnoWEE European project developed three technologies from Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) materials through a manufacturing process that supports the circular economy strategy of the European Union. Two of them consisted of geopolymer panels incorporated into an External Thermal Insulation Composite System (ETICS) and a ventilated façade. This study evaluates their thermal performance by means of monitoring data from three pilot case studies in Greece, Italy, and Romania, and calibrated building simulation models enabling the reliable prediction of energy savings in different climates and use scenarios. Results showed a reduction in energy demand for all demo buildings, with annual energy savings up to 25% after placing the novel insulation solutions. However, savings are highly dependent on weather conditions since the panels affect cooling and heating loads differently. Finally, a parametric assessment is performed to assess the impact of insulation thickness through an energy performance prediction and a cash flow analysis.

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Influence of Lightweight Aggregate Concrete Materials on Building Energy Performance

Buildings ◽

10.3390/buildings11030094 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 94

Author(s):

Tara L. Cavalline ◽

Jorge Gallegos ◽

Reid W. Castrodale ◽

Charles Freeman ◽

Jerry Liner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Thermal Properties ◽

Building Materials ◽

Energy Savings ◽

Lightweight Concrete ◽

Lightweight Aggregate ◽

Building Energy ◽

Energy Performance ◽

Energy Simulation ◽

Building Energy Simulation ◽

Building Energy Performance

Due to their porous nature, lightweight aggregates have been shown to exhibit thermal properties that are advantageous when used in building materials such as lightweight concrete, grout, mortar, and concrete masonry units. Limited data exist on the thermal properties of materials that incorporate lightweight aggregate where the pore system has not been altered, and very few studies have been performed to quantify the building energy performance of structures constructed using lightweight building materials in commonly utilized structural and building envelope components. In this study, several lightweight concrete and masonry building materials were tested to determine the thermal properties of the bulk materials, providing more accurate inputs to building energy simulation than have previously been used. These properties were used in EnergyPlus building energy simulation models for several types of commercial structures for which materials containing lightweight aggregates are an alternative commonly considered for economic and aesthetic reasons. In a simple model, use of sand lightweight concrete resulted in prediction of 15–17% heating energy savings and 10% cooling energy savings, while use of all lightweight concrete resulted in prediction of approximately 35–40% heating energy savings and 30% cooling energy savings. In more complex EnergyPlus reference models, results indicated superior thermal performance of lightweight aggregate building materials in 48 of 50 building energy simulations. Predicted energy savings for the five models ranged from 0.2% to 6.4%.

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A Study of Optimal Specifications for Light Shelves with Photovoltaic Modules to Improve Indoor Comfort and Save Building Energy

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18052574 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (5) ◽

pp. 2574

Author(s):

Heangwoo Lee ◽

Xiaolong Zhao ◽

Janghoo Seo

Keyword(s):

Energy Savings ◽

Building Energy ◽

Energy Performance ◽

Building Energy Efficiency ◽

Efficiency Change ◽

Photovoltaic Modules ◽

Heating And Cooling ◽

Pv Module ◽

Pv Modules ◽

Indoor Comfort

Recent studies on light shelves found that building energy efficiency could be maximized by applying photovoltaic (PV) modules to light shelf reflectors. Although PV modules generate a substantial amount of heat and change the consumption of indoor heating and cooling energy, performance evaluations carried out thus far have not considered these factors. This study validated the effectiveness of PV module light shelves and determined optimal specifications while considering heating and cooling energy savings. A full-scale testbed was built to evaluate performance according to light shelf variables. The uniformity ratio was found to improve according to the light shelf angle value and decreased as the PV module installation area increased. It was determined that PV modules should be considered in the design of light shelves as their daylighting and concentration efficiency change according to their angles. PV modules installed on light shelves were also found to change the indoor cooling and heating environment; the degree of such change increased as the area of the PV module increased. Lastly, light shelf specifications for reducing building energy, including heating and cooling energy, were not found to apply to PV modules since PV modules on light shelf reflectors increase building energy consumption.

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Perancangan sistem manajemen energi pada industri manufaktur berdasarkan ISO 50001:2011

Operations Excellence Journal of Applied Industrial Engineering ◽

10.22441/oe.2020.v12.i1.008 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 88

Author(s):

Taufik Ridwan

Keyword(s):

Energy Management ◽

Distribution System ◽

Management System ◽

Manufacturing Industry ◽

Energy Savings ◽

Energy Performance ◽

Energy Management System ◽

Steam Boiler ◽

System Implementation ◽

Self Assessment

As one manufacturing industry with a large level of energy consumption makes energy management mandatory applied at PT. XYZ, the purpose of this research is to design energy management system implementation strategy in PT. XYZ based on ISO 50001. Started by self assessment and by collecting data on the use of primary energy sources in the company, followed by processing and analyzing using simple linear regression. The self assessment results show 38% of the total value’s completeness of existing program in the clause of ISO 50001. From the processing and analyzing’s energy usage showed energy baseline and energy performance indicators (EnPI) of the company. The result of research is identifies and proposes the potential of energy savings in air compressor distribution system, steam boiler distribution, and electrical distribution system with good housekeeping, control system, and modification, proposes the energy management system implementation based on Deming’s PDCA cycle, and continued by recommending roadmap towards the implementation of energy management systems.

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Economic assessment of energy efficiency investments in dwellings = Evaluación económica de inversiones de eficiencia energética en viviendas

Building & Management ◽

10.20868/bma.2017.2.3552 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 36 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hector Hernández

Keyword(s):

Energy Efficiency ◽

Energy Savings ◽

Economic Assessment ◽

Energy Performance ◽

Point Of View ◽

Economic Modelling ◽

Evaluación Económica ◽

Energy Performance Of Buildings ◽

The Moment ◽

Definition Of

In order to improve the energy performance of buildings, the need to value economically investments of energy efficiency associated with the rehabilitation of dwellings arises. This point of view provides an useful tool for analysts who start in the economic appraisal of energy efficiency investments. The present research gives a conceptual framework for the economic assessment of these types of investments in dwellings. As a result, it is possible to identify two techniques in the appraisals of this nature: dynamic and static approaches. Both methods contrast the benefits (energy savings) with the costs of investments over time. However, they differentiate the opportunity and the moment when investment must be carried out given an uncertainty scenario. This conceptual precision allows the study of several publications where different alternatives in retrofitting houses where evaluated, confirming the considerations that must be taken into account when economic modelling is made: the type of approach to be used (dynamic or static) and; at the definition of the investment alternatives and scenarios, the aspects of time, irrevocability and uncertainty.ResumenEn pro de la mejora del desempeño energético de los edificios, surge la necesidad de evaluar económicamente las inversiones de eficiencia energética asociadas a la rehabilitación de viviendas. Este punto de vista trata de ser una herramienta útil para analistas que se inicien en la evaluación económica de inversiones en eficiencia energética. La presente investigación muestra un marco conceptual de la evaluación económica de este tipo de inversiones en viviendas. Como resultado, es posible identificar dos enfoques presentes en los análisis económicos de esta naturaleza: el dinámico y el estático. Ambos métodos contrastan los beneficios (ahorros energéticos) con los costes de las inversiones en el tiempo. Sin embargo, diferencian la oportunidad y el momento en que la inversión debe realizarse dado un escenario de incertidumbre. Esta precisión conceptual permite estudiar varias publicaciones donde se evaluaron diferentes alternativas de reacondicionamiento en viviendas, confirmándose las consideraciones que deben tenerse presentes en momento de realizar la modelación económica: el tipo de enfoque a usar (dinámico o estático) y, en la definición de las alternativas de inversión y escenarios, los aspectos de tiempo, irrevocabilidad e incertidumbre.

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THERMAL COMFORT AND ENERGY SOLUTIONS FOR A BETTER RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENT IN MALAYSIA

PLANNING MALAYSIA JOURNAL ◽

10.21837/pmjournal.v13.i5.138 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

Author(s):

Noor Aziah Mohd Ariffin

Keyword(s):

Thermal Comfort ◽

Air Conditioning ◽

Energy Savings ◽

Energy Performance ◽

Data Monitoring ◽

Medium Density ◽

Design Strategies ◽

Residential Energy ◽

Passive Design ◽

Design Systems

In hot-humid Malaysia, there are around five million units of housing. Among these, the medium-density terraced are the most built. However, little emphasis was given to designing for thermal comfort and energy efficiency. Consequently, air-conditioning is ubiquitous with ever-rising residential energy consumption. This paper studied passive design systems to improve living conditions and conserve energy through orientation and insulation parameters for terraced housing. Utilizing a triangulation of methods to correlate between thermal comfort and energy performance, findings from the questionnaire survey, data monitoring and computer simulation contended that with the passive design strategies minimum thermal comfort is attainable and energy savings predicted.

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