Use of hygrothermal modeling to validate the application of an open-cell spray-foam insulation application to a high-rise heritage building in Winnipeg, Manitoba

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (11) ◽  
pp. 1021-1031 ◽  
Author(s):  
John A. Wells ◽  
Robert Spewak
Keyword(s):  
Sensor Data ◽  
Analysis Tool ◽  
Building Stock ◽  
Accurate Analysis ◽  
Open Cell ◽  
Existing Building ◽  
Moisture Sensor ◽  
Heritage Buildings ◽  
Interior Face

The increasing cost of new building construction has made repurposing existing building stock economically more viable compared with a green site new build. In addition to capital cost benefits, increasing urban densification through repurposing existing buildings is one of the solutions for enhancing the urban environment. This paper summarizes the investigative work completed to substantially improve the energy efficiency of a heritage 10 storey building in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The investigative work for the remediation involved hygrothermal modeling to rationalize the introduction of thermal insulation to the interior face of the exterior walls. Based on the modelling, an open-cell spray foam was applied to the interior face of the masonry walls. Temperature, moisture, and relative humidity sensors were placed in various locations throughout the building to monitor the exterior walls, primarily to identify if deleterious levels of moisture were accumulating in the masonry. The results were also used to compare the in-situ performance of the building with the predicted performance from the hygrothermal models. The investigation confirmed that obtaining accurate in-situ moisture readings in masonry products is significantly impacted by initial internal moisture levels, necessitating pre-test calibration. Regardless, moisture sensor data accumulated to date indicate that after six years of monitoring, deleterious levels of moisture in the masonry and plaster are not occurring in the exterior walls, which is in good agreement with hygrothermal model results for open-cell foam. The results of this investigation confirm that the implementation of hygrothermal modeling is an effective and accurate analysis tool in the long-term durability assessment of building envelopes for heritage buildings.

scholarly journals Properties of the Triangular Excitation Pulse and the 3D Heat Transfer Effects in the Excitation Pulse Method

2019 ◽  
Vol 111 ◽  
pp. 04018
Author(s):  
Arash Rasooli ◽  
Laure Itard
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Thermal Resistance ◽  
Thermal Characteristics ◽  
Pulse Method ◽  
Excitation Pulse ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Building Stock ◽  
Response Factors ◽  
Existing Building

Concerning the high levels of energy consumption in the existing building stock, the necessity for characterization of the building envelop is a well-known issue. Accordingly, numerous methods and practices have been developed and studied to measure the thermal resistance and other thermal characteristics of the walls in-situ. In the current paper, a previously proposed method, the Excitation Pulse Method, EPM, based on the theory of thermal response factors, is further studied and investigated through simulations, to rapidly measure the thermal resistance of existing walls. A prototype is built and introduced to carry out larger number of measurements on site. The triangular pulse’s properties such as the relation between its magnitude and its time interval on its corresponding response are investigated. It is shown how changes in time interval can make the method sensitive to the number of residuals and affect its reliability. General constraints and validity domain of the method are studied. In addition, the effect of 3D heat transfer on the performance of the method is further illustrated in light and heavy constructions. It is shown in which cases it is possible to apply the method in-situ and measure the thermal resistance within a couple of hours.

scholarly journals Dynamic Hygrothermal Models for Monumental, Historic Buildings with HVAC Systems: Complexity shown through a case study

2020 ◽  
Vol 172 ◽  
pp. 15007
Author(s):  
Magda Posani ◽  
Maria Do Rosario Veiga ◽  
Vasco Peixoto de Freitas ◽  
Karin Kompatscher ◽  
Henk Schellen
Keyword(s):  
Global Climate ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Hvac Systems ◽  
Building Stock ◽  
Vapour Permeability ◽  
Existing Building ◽  
Hygrothermal Simulation ◽  
Heat And Moisture

Our global climate is changing and the problem got so serious that the European Commission is calling for a climate-neutral Europe by 2050. To reach such an ambitious and urgent goal, an energy efficient renovation of the existing building stock is needed. Nonetheless, some buildings must be treated with special attention because of their historical value. Thus, it is advisable to evaluate their retrofit with the aid of calibrated hygrothermal simulation models, whose calibration can be complex and time demanding. This work shows the strategy adopted for obtaining a calibrated model for a XVI-century construction located northern Italy, by means of indoor air temperature and relative humidity monitoring, plus CO2 measurements and in situ inspection. This study accounts for the first 9 months of measurements performed on the case study and it adopts HAMBase as a simulation tool because of its ability to combine heat and moisture calculations in monumental buildings with HVAC systems. This paper aims at showing the main problems found in developing and calibrating the simulation model while defining a procedure to overcome them. The major outcome of the study is that the stratification of temperature detected in the main monumental room could be successfully modelled via dividing this space into different zones, vertically, by introducing fictitious interzonal surfaces made of a material with high thermal conductivity and vapour permeability. All in all, the strategy adopted in this work can be used by other researchers and professionals to overcome problems that can be commonly met when modelling similar historic constructions.

scholarly journals Proposal for a Methodology for Sustainable Rehabilitation Strategies of the Existing Building Stock—The Ponte Gêa Neighborhood

Designs ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Michael M. Santos ◽  
João C. G. Lanzinha ◽  
Ana Vaz Ferreira
Keyword(s):  
Urban Space ◽  
Construction And Demolition Waste ◽  
Expected Improvement ◽  
Water Efficiency ◽  
Building Stock ◽  
Demolition Waste ◽  
Existing Building ◽  
Agenda 2030 ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
The City

Having in mind the objectives of the United Nations Development Agenda 2030, which refers to the sustainable principles of a circular economy, it is urgent to improve the performance of the built environment. The existing buildings must be preserved and improved in order to reduce their environmental impact, in line with the need to revert climate change and reduce the occurrence of natural disasters. This work had as its main goal to identify and define a methodology for promoting the rehabilitation of buildings in the Ponte Gêa neighborhood, in the city of Beira, Mozambique, with an emphasis on energy efficiency, water efficiency, and construction and demolition waste management. The proposed methodology aims to create a decision support method for creating strategic measures to be implemented by considering the three specific domains—energy, water, and waste. This model allows for analyzing the expected improvement according to the action to be performed, exploring both individual and community solutions. It encompasses systems of standard supply that can reveal greater efficiency and profitability. Thus, the in-depth knowledge of the characteristics of urban space and buildings allows for establishing guidelines for the renovation process of the neighborhood.

scholarly journals Optimal Renovation Strategies through Life-Cycle Analysis in a Pilot Building Located in a Mild Mediterranean Climate

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1423
Author(s):  
José Manuel Salmerón Lissen ◽  
Cristina Isabel Jareño Escudero ◽  
Francisco José Sánchez de la Flor ◽  
Miriam Navarro Escudero ◽  
Theoni Karlessi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Mediterranean Climate ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Economic Life ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Optimal Solutions ◽  
Building Stock ◽  
Existing Building ◽  
The Cost

The 2030 climate and energy framework includes EU-wide targets and policy objectives for the period 2021–2030 of (1) at least 55% cuts in greenhouse gas emissions (from 1990 levels); (2) at least 32% share for renewable energy; and (3) at least 32.5% improvement in energy efficiency. In this context, the methodology of the cost-optimal level from the life-cycle cost approach has been applied to calculate the cost of renovating the existing building stock in Europe. The aim of this research is to analyze a pilot building using the cost-optimal methodology to determine the renovation measures that lead to the lowest life-cycle cost during the estimated economic life of the building. The case under study is an apartment building located in a mild Mediterranean climate (Castellon, SP). A package of 12 optimal solutions has been obtained to show the importance of the choice of the elements and systems for renovating building envelopes and how energy and economic aspects influence this choice. Simulations have shown that these packages of optimal solutions (different configurations for the building envelope, thermal bridges, airtightness and ventilation, and domestic hot water production systems) can provide savings in the primary energy consumption of up to 60%.

scholarly journals BIM and IoT Sensors Integration: A Framework for Consumption and Indoor Conditions Data Monitoring of Existing Buildings

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 4496
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Desogus ◽  
Emanuela Quaquero ◽  
Giulia Rubiu ◽  
Gianluca Gatto ◽  
Cristian Perra
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Application Programming Interface ◽  
Visual Programming ◽  
Information Modeling ◽  
Sensor Data ◽  
Time Data ◽  
Existing Building ◽  
Building Maintenance ◽  
Indoor Conditions

The low accessibility to the information regarding buildings current performances causes deep difficulties in planning appropriate interventions. Internet of Things (IoT) sensors make available a high quantity of data on energy consumptions and indoor conditions of an existing building that can drive the choice of energy retrofit interventions. Moreover, the current developments in the topic of the digital twin are leading the diffusion of Building Information Modeling (BIM) methods and tools that can provide valid support to manage all data and information for the retrofit process. This paper shows the aim and the findings of research focused on testing the integrated use of BIM methodology and IoT systems. A common data platform for the visualization of building indoor conditions (e.g., temperature, luminance etc.) and of energy consumption parameters was carried out. This platform, tested on a case study located in Italy, is developed with the integration of low-cost IoT sensors and the Revit model. To obtain a dynamic and automated exchange of data between the sensors and the BIM model, the Revit software was integrated with the Dynamo visual programming platform and with a specific Application Programming Interface (API). It is an easy and straightforward tool that can provide building managers with real-time data and information about the energy consumption and the indoor conditions of buildings, but also allows for viewing of the historical sensor data table and creating graphical historical sensor data. Furthermore, the BIM model allows the management of other useful information about the building, such as dimensional data, functions, characteristics of the components of the building, maintenance status etc., which are essential for a much more conscious, effective and accurate management of the building and for defining the most suitable retrofit scenarios.

Verification of In Situ Thresholds and Integrated Real-Ear Measurements

2010 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 663-670 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey J. DiGiovanni ◽  
Ryan M. Pratt
Keyword(s):  
Measurement System ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Analysis Tool ◽  
Ohio University ◽  
Positive Direction ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Threshold Measurement

Background: Accurate prescriptive gain results in a more accurate fit, lower return rate in hearing aids, and increased patient satisfaction. In situ threshold measurements can be used to determine required gain. The Widex Corporation uses an in situ threshold measurement strategy, called the Sensogram. Real-ear measurements determine if prescriptive gain targets have been achieved. Starkey Laboratories introduced an integrated real-ear measurement system in their hearing aids. Purpose: To determine whether the responses obtained using the Widex Sensogram were equivalent to those obtained using current clinical threshold measurement methods. To determine the accuracy of the Starkey IREMS™ (Integrated Real Ear Measurement System) in measuring RECD (real-ear to coupler difference) values compared to a dedicated real-ear measurement system. Research Design: A verification design was employed by comparing participant data measured from standard, benchmark equipment and procedures against new techniques offered by hearing-aid manufacturers. Study Sample: A total of 20 participants participated in this study. Ten participants with sensorineural hearing loss were recruited from the Ohio University Hearing, Speech, and Language Clinic participated in the first experiment. Ten participants with normal hearing were recruited from the student population at Ohio University participated in both experiments. The normal-hearing group had thresholds of 15 dB HL or better at the octave frequencies of 250–8000 Hz. The hearing-impaired group had thresholds of varying degrees and configurations with thresholds equal to or poorer than 25 dB HL three-frequency pure-tone average. Data Collection and Analysis: The order of measurement method for both experiments was counterbalanced. In Experiment 1, thresholds obtained via the Widex Sensogram were compared to thresholds obtained for each participant using a clinical audiometer and ER-3A insert ear phones. In Experiment 2, RECD values obtained via the Starkey IREMS were compared to RECD values obtained via the Audioscan Verifit™. A repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for statistical analysis, and a Fisher's LSD (least significant difference) was used as a post hoc analysis tool. Results: A significant difference between Sensogram thresholds and conventional audiometric thresholds was found with the Sensogram method resulting in better threshold values at 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 kHz for both groups. In Experiment 2, a significant difference between RECD values obtained by the Starkey IREMS and the Audioscan Verifit system was found with significant differences in RECD values found at 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.5, 2.0, and 6.0 kHz. Conclusions: The Sensogram data differ significantly from traditional audiometry at several frequencies important for speech intelligibility. Real-ear measures are still required for verification of prescribed gain, however, calling into question any claims of shortened fitting time. The Starkey IREMS does perform real-ear measurements that vary significantly from benchmark equipment. These technologies represent a positive direction in prescribing accurate gain during hearing-aid fittings, but a stand-alone system is still the preferred method for real-ear measurements in hearing-aid fittings.

scholarly journals RINNO: Towards an Open Renovation Platform for Integrated Design and Delivery of Deep Renovation Projects

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 6018
Author(s):  
Theo Lynn ◽  
Pierangelo Rosati ◽  
Antonia Egli ◽  
Stelios Krinidis ◽  
Komninos Angelakoglou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Integrated Design ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Building Stock ◽  
Existing Building ◽  
Horizon 2020 ◽  
Regulatory Standards ◽  
Automation Systems ◽  
Wide Range

The building stock accounts for a significant portion of worldwide energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. While the majority of the existing building stock has poor energy performance, deep renovation efforts are stymied by a wide range of human, technological, organisational and external environment factors across the value chain. A key challenge is integrating appropriate human resources, materials, fabrication, information and automation systems and knowledge management in a proper manner to achieve the required outcomes and meet the relevant regulatory standards, while satisfying a wide range of stakeholders with differing, often conflicting, motivations. RINNO is a Horizon 2020 project that aims to deliver a set of processes that, when working together, provide a system, repository, marketplace and enabling workflow process for managing deep renovation projects from inception to implementation. This paper presents a roadmap for an open renovation platform for managing and delivering deep renovation projects for residential buildings based on seven design principles. We illustrate a preliminary stepwise framework for applying the platform across the full-lifecycle of a deep renovation project. Based on this work, RINNO will develop a new open renovation software platform that will be implemented and evaluated at four pilot sites with varying construction, regulatory, market and climate contexts.

scholarly journals Life-Cycle Assessment of a Rural Terraced House: A Struggle with Sustainability of Building Renovations

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 2472
Author(s):  
Karel Struhala ◽  
Milan Ostrý
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Construction Sector ◽  
Building Stock ◽  
Existing Building ◽  
New Construction ◽  
Consumption Energy

Contemporary research stresses the need to reduce mankind’s environmental impacts and achieve sustainability. One of the keys to this is the construction sector. New buildings have to comply with strict limits regarding resource consumption (energy, water use, etc.). However, they make up only a fraction of the existing building stock. Renovations of existing buildings are therefore essential for the reduction of the environmental impacts in the construction sector. This paper illustrates the situation using a case study of a rural terraced house in a village near Brno, Czech Republic. It compares the life-cycle assessment (LCA) of the original house and its proposed renovation as well as demolition followed by new construction. The LCA covers both the initial embodied environmental impacts (EEIs) and the 60-year operation of the house with several variants of energy sources. The results show that the proposed renovation would reduce overall environmental impacts (OEIs) of the house by up to 90% and the demolition and new construction by up to 93% depending on the selected energy sources. As such, the results confirm the importance of renovations and the installation of environmentally-friendly energy sources for achieving sustainability in the construction sector. They also show the desirability of the replacement of inefficient old buildings by new construction in specific cases.

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