Net Zero Energy Retrofit Shading Strategies of Buildings in Gaza, Case Study: Multi-Storey Residential Buildings

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rania Mohammad Ashour ◽  
Ahmed S. Muhaisen ◽  
Suheir Ammar
Keyword(s):  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Energy Retrofit ◽  
Net Zero Energy ◽  
Net Zero

Improvements in the Airtightness of Housing in Richmond, British Columbia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sepehr Foroushani
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Air Leakage ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Performance Targets ◽  
Net Zero Energy ◽  
Net Zero Energy Building ◽  
Net Zero

Controlling air leakage through the building envelope remains a challenge, especially in light of the imperative to transition to a net-zero energy building sector and the increasing importance of indoor air quality during extreme weather events such as wildfires. The British Columbia Energy Step Code is a performance-based compliance option in the British Columbia Building Code which is intended to provide a transition pathway to net-zero energy ready construction by 2032. For small residential buildings, performance targets entail thresholds for the measured air leakage rate through the building envelope. This paper reports on the airtightness of the first 145 single- and two-family dwellings built under the Energy Step Code in Richmond, BC. Although the first phase of the implementation of the Energy Step Code in Richmond entailed no airtightness targets (only testing), results indicate improvement compared to the historical levels of airtightness in the region.

The applicability of nearly/net zero energy residential buildings in Brazil – A study of a low standard dwelling in three different Brazilian climate zones

2020 ◽  
pp. 1420326X2096115
Author(s):  
Jaime Resende ◽  
Marta Monzón-Chavarrías ◽  
Helena Corvacho
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Energy Balance ◽  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Performance Standard ◽  
Single Family ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Climate Zones ◽  
Net Zero Energy ◽  
Net Zero

Buildings account for 34% of world energy consumption and about half of electricity consumption. The nearly/Net Zero Energy Building (nZEB/NZEB) concepts are regarded as solutions for minimizing this problem. The countries of Southern Europe, which included the nZEB concept recently in their regulatory requirements, have both heating and cooling needs, which adds complexity to the problem. Brazil may benefit from their experience since most of the Brazilian climate zones present significant similarities to the Southern European climate. Brazil recently presented a household energy consumption increase, and a growing trend in the use of air conditioning is predicted for the coming decades. Simulations with various wall and roof solutions following the Brazilian Performance Standard were carried out in a low standard single-family house in three different climate zones in order to evaluate thermal comfort conditions and energy needs. Results show that in milder climate zones, achieving thermal comfort with a low energy consumption is possible, and there is a great potential to achieve a net zero-energy balance. In the extreme hot climate zone, a high cooling energy consumption is needed to provide thermal comfort, and the implementation of a nearly zero-energy balance may be more feasible.

scholarly journals flEECe, an energy use and occupant behavior dataset for net-zero energy affordable senior residential buildings

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederick Paige ◽  
Philip Agee ◽  
Farrokh Jazizadeh
Keyword(s):  
Affordable Housing ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Building Energy ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Occupant Behavior ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Net Zero Energy ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Building Energy Use

AbstractThe behaviors of building occupants have continued to perplex scholars for years in our attempts to develop models for energy efficient housing. Building simulations, project delivery approaches, policies, and more have fell short of their optimistic goals due to the complexity of human behavior. As a part of a multiphase longitudinal affordable housing study, this dataset represents energy and occupant behavior attributes for 6 affordable housing units over nine months in Virginia, USA which are not performing to the net-zero energy standard they were designed for. This dataset provides researchers the ability to analyze the following variables: energy performance, occupant behaviors, energy literacy, and ecological perceptions. Energy data is provided at a 1 Hz sampling rate for four circuits: main, hot water heater, dryer, and HVAC. Building specifications, occupancy, weather data, and neighboring building energy use data are provided to add depth to the dataset. This dataset can be used to update building energy use models, predictive maintenance, policy frameworks, construction risk models, economic models, and more.

scholarly journals Targeting Energy Efficiency through Air Conditioning Operational Modes for Residential Buildings in Tropical Climates, Assisted by Solar Energy and Thermal Energy Storage. Case Study Brazil

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 12831
Author(s):  
Alex Ximenes Naves ◽  
Laureano Jiménez Esteller ◽  
Assed Naked Haddad ◽  
Dieter Boer
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Air Conditioning ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Net Zero Energy ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Life Cycle Perspective ◽  
Operational Modes

Economy and parsimony in the consumption of energy resources are becoming a part of common sense in practically all countries, although the effective implementation of energy efficiency policies still has a long way to go. The energy demand for residential buildings is one of the most significant energy sinks. We focus our analysis on one of the most energy-consuming systems of residential buildings located in regions of tropical climate, which are cooling systems. We evaluate to which degree the integration of thermal energy storage (TES) and photovoltaic (PV) systems helps to approach an annual net zero energy building (NZEB) configuration, aiming to find a feasible solution in the direction of energy efficiency in buildings. To conduct the simulations, an Energy Efficiency Analysis Framework (EEAF) is proposed. A literature review unveiled a potential knowledge gap about the optimization of the ASHRAE operational modes (full storage load, load leveled, and demand limiting) for air conditioning/TES sets using PV connected to the grid. A hypothetical building was configured with detailed loads and occupation profiles to simulate different configurations of air conditioning associated with TES and a PV array. Using TRNSYS software, a set of scenarios was simulated, and their outputs are analyzed in a life cycle perspective using life cycle costing (LCC). The modeling and simulation of different scenarios allowed for identifying the most economic configurations from a life cycle perspective, within a safe range of operability considering the energy efficiency and consequently the sustainability aspects of the buildings. The EEAF also supports other profiles, such as those in which the occupancy of residential buildings during the day is increased due to significant changes in people’s habits, when working and studying in home office mode, for example. These changes in habits should bring a growing interest in the adoption of solar energy for real-time use in residential buildings. The results can be used as premises for the initial design or planning retrofits of buildings, aiming at the annual net zero energy balance.

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.

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