The zero building: an exemplary nearly zero energy office building (NZEB) and its potential to become a positive energy building (PEB)

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
X. Barrutieta ◽  
J. Gainza ◽  
O. Irulegi ◽  
R. Hernández
Keyword(s):  
Office Building ◽  
Positive Energy ◽  
Zero Energy

scholarly journals Energy and Environmental Evaluation of Retrofitting Facades for Zero Energy Buildings: The Case of an Office Building in Greece

2021 ◽  
Vol 2069 (1) ◽  
pp. 012108
Author(s):  
Effrosyni Giama ◽  
Elli Kyriaki ◽  
Panagiota Antoniadou ◽  
Maria Symeonidou ◽  
Agis M. Papadopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Office Building ◽  
Positive Energy ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Environmental Evaluation ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Eu Policies ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Energy and environmental targets are expressed clearly by the EU policies setting ambitious goals for 2030 and 2050 considering energy intensive sectors such as buildings. Pursuing high energy performance with the least environmental impact of a building, along with ensuring the well-being of the occupants, is the ultimate goal of an institutional framework that addresses energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. Part of this effort is the improvement of the building envelope’s thermal performance, along with the respective one of HVAC systems, as those determine thee energy performance of buildings in their use phase. Main scope of the paper is to evaluate and analyse different scenarios considering the retrofitting of facades as part of the refurbishment towards Zero and Positive Energy Buildings, but also in connection with the strive for Net Zero Energy, Net Zero Cost Energy and Net Zero Emissions goals. The paper also discusses energy and environmental evaluation of refurbishing an office building in Greece, examining the performance of different envelope construction typologies and alternative insulation scenarios. These scenarios include state of the art insulation techniques, but also innovative design elements such as the use of different final coating materials for ventilated façades like the use of phase-changing materials (PCMs). The results of the assessment undertaken are used to rate the construction solutions by means of energy and environmental parameters proving the environmental impact of concrete and insulation materials in construction phase but also the reduced primary energy consumption and thus the CO2 emissions in the life cycle of the building. Considering the environmental evaluation, the carbon footprint analysis was used according to Greenhouse Gas Protocol focusing mainly on CO2 emissions, which is the main emission target of EU policies. The impact assessment followed demonstrated that the most significant impact categories are global warming, acidification and eutrophication.

scholarly journals Transformation of an Office Building into a Nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB): Implications for Thermal and Visual Comfort and Energy Performance

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 895 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilaria Ballarini ◽  
Giovanna De Luca ◽  
Argun Paragamyan ◽  
Anna Pellegrino ◽  
Vincenzo Corrado
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Office Building ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Visual Comfort ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Efficiency Measures

Directive 2010/31/EU promotes the refurbishment of existing buildings to change them into nearly zero-energy buildings (nZEBs). Within this framework, it is of crucial importance to guarantee the best trade-off between energy performance and indoor environmental quality (IEQ). The implications of a global refurbishment scenario on thermal and visual comfort are assessed in this paper pertaining to an existing office building. The retrofit actions applied to achieve the nZEB target consist of a combination of envelope and technical building systems refurbishment measures, involving both HVAC and lighting. Energy and comfort calculations were carried out through dynamic simulation using Energy Plus and DIVA, for the thermal and visual performance assessments, respectively. The results point out that energy retrofit actions on the building envelope would lead to significant improvements in the thermal performance, regarding both energy savings (−37% of the annual primary energy for heating) and thermal comfort. However, a daylighting reduction would occur with a consequent higher electricity demand for lighting (36%). The research presents a detailed approach applicable to further analyses aimed at optimizing the energy efficiency measures in order to reduce the imbalance between visual and thermal comfort and to ensure the best performance in both domains.

Energy and architectural consequences of Swedish building code

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-142
Author(s):  
Marja Sofie Lundgren
Keyword(s):  
Architectural Design ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Building Code ◽  
Positive Energy ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
System Boundaries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
National Implementation ◽  
Energy Aspects ◽  
Zero Energy Buildings

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose building code changes that would benefit both architectural design and the potential of achieving nearly zero energy goals by analyzing the architectural implications of the energy system boundaries within the Swedish code. Design/methodology/approach – The analysis is driven by three questions that relate the national implementation of EU directive on nearly zero energy 2020 to the premises set out in the guidelines for revising the Swedish building code aiming at a performance-based regulation. A crucial part of the research is a comparative analysis of the design implications of the code to research findings in scientific articles on near-zero energy or low-energy design. Findings – The energy system boundaries in the Swedish code are steering the architectural design and energy consequences of offices towards using less heat but more electricity. The energy section is also limiting the architectural design choices by ignoring the positive energy aspects of daylight. A proposal of a new comprehensive energy section taking all architectural design related energy aspects into account is presented, in order to support design of nearly zero energy buildings. Practical implications – A building code that relates the energy system boundaries to form will help integrated design choices that are more likely to support the strive towards nearly zero energy buildings. Originality/value – The paper reveals the design implication of the Swedish energy section to be counterproductive regarding energy efficiency as well as limiting architectural design choices.

scholarly journals Towards net zero energy modular housing: a case study

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Hachem-vermette ◽  
Chinyere Dara ◽  
Rhys Kane
Keyword(s):  
Hot Water ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Positive Energy ◽  
Energy Status ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
The South ◽  
Net Zero Energy ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Modular Housing

The paper summarizes an investigation of the performance of container based housing units developed by Ladacor Ltd, and compares this performance to traditional housing constructed according to existing standards and codes. The results indicate that the case study housing system can reduce thermal loads (heating and cooling) by about 57% as compared to the same house designed according to the code. Implementing additional efficiency measures and solar design strategies such as increased south window size, suitable shading devices, thermal mass, and more airtight construction, leads to improved performance. This enhanced scenario can reduce the thermal load by 72% as compared to the code scenario and by about 35% as compared to the original case study system. Achieving a net-zero energy status can be reached by integrating photovoltaics on the south roof of the single-family housing designed with Ladacor roof, assuming energy efficient appliances, lighting and domestic hot water. The optimal case can reach a net positive energy status, with a PV system integrated on the south facing roof surface. Results from this investigation can serve in developing innovative design concepts and guidelines for the design of low cost, self-sufficient modular housing.

scholarly journals An Investigation on the Feasibility of Near-Zero and Positive Energy Communities in the Greek Context

Smart Cities ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 362-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasileios Sougkakis ◽  
Konstantinos Lymperopoulos ◽  
Nikos Nikolopoulos ◽  
Nikolaos Margaritis ◽  
Paraskevi Giourka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Pump Energy ◽  
District Heating ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Positive Energy ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Geothermal Heat ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
Heating And Cooling ◽  
Geothermal Heat Pump

Near Zero Energy and Positive Energy communities are expected to play a significant part in EU’s strategy to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Within this context, the work presented in this paper aims to investigate the feasibility of: (a) a new-built positive energy neighborhood; and (b) the retrofit of an existing neighborhood to near zero energy performance in the city of Alexandroupolis, Greece. Proposed measures involve the rollout at the community scale of renewable energy technologies (PV, geothermal heat pump), energy efficiency (fabric insulation, district heating and cooling networks) and storage systems (batteries). A parametric analysis is conducted to identify the optimum combination of technologies through suitable technical and financial criteria. Results indicate that zero and near zero emissions targets are met with various combinations that impose insulation levels, according to building regulations or slightly higher, and consider renewable energy production with an autonomy of half or, more commonly, one day. In addition, the advantages of performing nearly zero energy retrofit at the district, rather than the building level, are highlighted, in an attempt to stimulate interest in community energy schemes.

scholarly journals Freely falling observer and black hole radiation

2014 ◽  
Vol 29 (11) ◽  
pp. 1450052 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wontae Kim ◽  
Edwin J. Son
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Energy Density ◽  
Event Horizon ◽  
Negative Energy ◽  
Positive Energy ◽  
Energy Curve ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Negative Energy Density ◽  
Black Hole Radiation

We find radiation in an infalling frame and present an explicit analytic evidence of the failure of no drama condition by showing that an infalling observer finds an infinite negative energy density at the event horizon. The negative and positive energy density regions are divided by the newly defined zero-energy curve (ZEC). The evaporating black hole is surrounded by the negative energy which can also be observed in the infalling frame.

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