scholarly journals Assessing the Energy Demand Reduction in a Surgical Suite by Optimizing the HVAC Operation During Off-Use Periods

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 2233
Author(s):  
Antón Cacabelos-Reyes ◽  
José Luis López-González ◽  
Arturo González-Gil ◽  
Lara Febrero-Garrido ◽  
Pablo Eguía-Oller ◽  
...  

Hospital surgical suites are high consumers of energy due to the strict indoor air quality (IAQ) conditions. However, by varying the ventilation strategies, the potential for energy savings is great, particularly during periods without activity. In addition, there is no international consensus on the ventilation and hygrothermal requirements for surgical areas. In this work, a dynamic energy model of a surgical suite of a Spanish hospital is developed. This energy model is calibrated and validated with experimental data collected during real operation. The model is used to simulate the yearly energy performance of the surgical suite under different ventilation scenarios. The common issue in the studied ventilation strategies is that the hygrothermal conditions ranges are extended during off-use hours. The maximum savings obtained are around 70% of the energy demand without compromising the safety and health of patients and medical staff, as the study complies with current heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) regulations.

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 1226
Author(s):  
Beatriz Fraga-De Cal ◽  
Antonio Garrido-Marijuan ◽  
Olaia Eguiarte ◽  
Beñat Arregi ◽  
Ander Romero-Amorrortu ◽  
...  

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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (0) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Rasa Džiugaitė-Tumėnienė ◽  
Domas Madeikis

The high share of global energy costs to create an indoor climate has been of increasing interest to the global community for several decades and is increasingly the focus of policy. This paper analyses the energy performance gap between actual energy consumption and energy demand obtained during the dynamic energy simulation and building certification. To identify the energy performance gap, an existing office of energy efficiency class B was selected as a case study. The simulation program IDA Indoor Climate and Energy was used to create a dynamic energy model, based on the designed documentation and the actual indoor climate parameters recorded by the building management system. The results of the case study showed that the accuracy and reliability of the results presented by the dynamic energy model of the building directly depend on the assumptions. The correct values of the internal heat gains, indoor climate parameters, human behavior, air quality levels at different times of the day and season, HVAC system operation parameters and operation modes, specific fan powers of ventilation systems, the seasonal energy efficiency of cooling equipment and characteristics of sun protection measures have to be selected.


2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Belkacem ◽  
L Loukarfi ◽  
M Missoum ◽  
H Naji ◽  
A Khelil ◽  
...  

Bioclimatic architecture strategies and solar active systems contribute strongly to the reduction of building energy demand and achieving thermal comfort for its occupants over the whole year. This paper deals with the study of the energy performance improvement of a pilot bioclimatic house located in Algiers (Algeria). First, a series of experimental measures are conducted during cold period to show the effect of passive and active solar gains on the improvement of the indoor air temperature of the house. Then, a dynamic model of a solar heating system coupled with a bioclimatic house has been developed using TRNSYS software and validated with experimental data. The validated model has been used to establish the energy balance of the pilot bioclimatic house without solar heating system and to compare them to those of a conventional house. Finally, the improvement of the energy balance of the pilot bioclimatic house has been done by passive and active ways. The passive one includes the increase of south facing windows size and the use of night cooling with the use of shading device in summer. The active one consists of the integration of a solar heating system. Furthermore, an environmental study has been performed. The experimental results show that the energy requirements of a pilot bioclimatic house are very low which is suitable for the use of solar heating system in building. The simulation results show that the application of bioclimatic strategies is a better way to provide thermal comfort in summer and decrease the space heating energy demand of the house with 48.70%. The active solar system will cover 67.74% of the energy demand for heating of the house. These energy savings generate a significant reduction in CO2 emissions. Practical application: This work will enable engineers and designers of modern buildings of buildings in a Mediterranean climate to improve building energy efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions by a conjunction of different passive heating and cooling techniques such as insulation, thermal mass, window shades, night ventilation, and the solar heating system. The paper provides designers an effective strategy in terms of energy savings and indoor thermal comfort while reducing CO2 emissions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 174 ◽  
pp. 513-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. González-Gil ◽  
J.L. López-González ◽  
M. Fernández ◽  
P. Eguía ◽  
A. Erkoreka ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Michael Keltsch ◽  
Werner Lang ◽  
Thomas Auer

The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2010 calls for the Nearly Zero Energy Standard for new buildings from 2021 onwards: Buildings using “almost no energy” are powered by renewable sources or energy produced by the building itself. For residential buildings, this ambitious new standard has already been reached. But for other building types this goal is still far away. The potential of these buildings to meet a Nearly Zero Energy Standard was investigated by analyzing ten case studies representing non-residential buildings with different uses. The analysis shows that the primary characteristics common to critical building types are a dense building context with a very high degree of technical installation (such as hospital, research and laboratory buildings). The large primary energy demand of these types of buildings cannot be compensated by building and property-related energy generation including off-site renewables. If the future Nearly Zero Energy Standard were to be defined with lower requirements because of this, the state related properties of Bavaria suggest that the real potential energy savings available in at least 85% of all new buildings would be insufficiently exploited. Therefore, it would be useful to instead individualize the legal energy verification process for new buildings to distinguish critical building types such as laboratories and hospitals.


2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 414-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giedrė Streckienė ◽  
Elena Polonis

To meet the goals established by Directive 2010/31/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on the energy performance of buildings, the topics of energy efficiency in new and old buildings must be solved. Research and development of new energy solutions and technology are necessary for increasing energy performance of buildings. Three low-energy multi-dwelling buildings have been modelled and analyzed in the presented study. All multi-dwelling houses are made of similar single-family house cells. However, multi-dwelling buildings are of different geometry, flat number and height. DesignBuilder software was used for simulating and determining heating, cooling and electricity demand for buildings. Three different materials (silicate, ceramic and clay concrete blocks) as bearing constructions of external walls have been analyzed. To decrease cooling demand for buildings, the possibility of mounting internal or external louvers has been considered. Primary energy savings for multi-dwelling buildings using passive solar measures have been determined. Norint pasiekti Europos Sąjungos direktyvos 2010/31/EB tikslus dėl pastatų energinio naudingumo, reikia spręsti energijos efektyvumo klausimus naujų ir esamų pastatų srityje. Naujų energinių sprendinių ir technologijų tyrimai bei plėtra būtini norint padidinti pastatų energinį naudingumą. Šiame tyrime modeliuojami ir analizuojami trys mažaenergiai daugiabučiai pastatai. Visi jie sudaryti iš vienodo dydžio butų, tačiau pastatai tarpusavyje skiriasi geometrija, butų skaičiumi ir aukštingumu. Siekiant nustatyti ir išnagrinėti pastatų šilumos, vėsos ir elektros energijos poreikius, naudotasi DesignBuilder programa. Visų daugiabučių pastatų atvejais nagrinėjamos trys skirtingos išorės sienų laikančiųjų konstrukcijų medžiagos: silikatiniai, keraminiai ir keramzitbetonio blokeliai. Siekiant sumažinti vėsos poreikį pastatuose taip pat buvo analizuojama galimybė sumontuoti vidines arba išorines žaliuzes. Nustatyti sutaupytieji pirminės energijos kiekiai daugiabučių pastatų atvejams taikant pasyviąsias apsaugos nuo saulės priemones.


Author(s):  
Michael Keltsch ◽  
Werner Lang ◽  
Thomas Auer

The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2010 calls for the Nearly Zero Energy Standard for new buildings from 2021 onwards: Buildings using “almost no energy” are powered by renewable sources or energy produced by the building itself. For residential buildings, this ambitious new standard has already been reached. But for other building types this goal is still far away. The potential of these buildings to meet a Nearly Zero Energy Standard was investigated by analyzing ten case studies representing non-residential buildings with different uses. The analysis shows that the primary characteristics common to critical building types are a dense building context with a very high degree of technical installation (such as hospital, research and laboratory buildings). The large primary energy demand of these types of buildings cannot be compensated by building and property-related energy generation including off-site renewables. If the future Nearly Zero Energy Standard were to be defined with lower requirements because of this, the state related properties of Bavaria suggest that the real potential energy savings available in at least 85% of all new buildings would be insufficiently exploited. Therefore, it would be useful to instead individualize the legal energy verification process for new buildings to distinguish critical building types such as laboratories and hospitals.


Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 2116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Cesari ◽  
Paolo Valdiserri ◽  
Maddalena Coccagna ◽  
Sante Mazzacane

If not properly designed, the adoption of large windows can sometimes have a negative impact on building energy demand. For this reason, aggravated by the outdated building envelope of the healthcare building stock, large fenestration systems are usually avoided in hospitals, especially in old structures. However, with appropriate glazing specifications, the adoption of wider openings can result into significant energy savings, lower costs and strong positive effects on patients and staff well-being. The present study investigates how different window sizes and types of glazing affect heating, cooling and lighting energy demand in a hospital patient room. The objective is to evaluate the energy savings that may be obtained when installing larger windows and to identify the glazing properties allowing one to reach the maximum energy reductions. Simulations were carried out using nine diverse glazing systems, already available on the market, and their energy performance was evaluated in relation to two different window areas: a common size opening, characterized by a 25% Window-to-Wall Ratio (WWR), and a floor to ceiling window, with 77% WWR. The analysis was conducted taking into consideration four different orientations in four Italian cities, supposing two artificial lighting control strategies. The results highlighted how the adoption of wider windows with appropriate glazings and a daylight-linked dimming lighting control strategy may lower the primary energy demand up to 17%.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1387-1407
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Novikova ◽  
Zsuzsa Szalay ◽  
Miklós Horváth ◽  
Johannes Becker ◽  
Gjergji Simaku ◽  
...  

Abstract The paper presents the public building typology, energy demand estimations and retrofit scenarios, as well as associated costs and benefits for energy-saving measures in the public building stock of Albania. First, representative building types were identified to estimate their energy performance, and define retrofit packages. Second, this information was used to analyse the costs and benefits of the different thermal efficiency retrofits. Apart from specific benefits due to cost savings in the use phase, co-benefits were estimated to understand their dimension and influence on decision-making. Finally, energy efficiency supply curves were developed to show the priority sequence of retrofits and building types. It was found that due to the growing wealth in Albania, user behaviour will change a lot in the future. Energy usage in the public building sector will increase and mitigate savings resulting from energy-saving measures making saved energy costs invisible. However, if other benefits beyond energy savings are considered, the cost efficiency of the measures remain obvious. The recommended approach can be used to assist decision-making and allocate funds.


2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 274-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny Crawley ◽  
Jez Wingfield ◽  
Cliff Elwell

The UK’s Air Tightness Testing and Measurement Association competent persons scheme collects pressure test data and metadata from the majority of new build dwellings in the UK. This article uses the dataset to investigate the importance of the ventilation strategy in airtightness design and construction. Design and measured airtightness were tested for association with declared ventilation strategy. It was found that ventilation strategy makes a statistically significant difference to airtightness; however, this difference is too small to be practically relevant. Properties with mechanical ventilation and heat recovery (MVHR) were shown to have a mean designed air permeability only 0.46 m3/m2h lower than naturally ventilated dwellings. Seventy-three per cent of homes with MVHR have design airtightness greater than or equal to 5 m3/m2h and 17% of naturally ventilated dwellings have design airtightness less than 5 m3/m2h. We discuss how current design is not maximising the CO2, cost and air quality benefit of each ventilation strategy. A new approach to regulatory compliance is proposed, which explicitly links the designed airtightness and chosen ventilation system. It is suggested that compliance could then be achieved using a set of airtightness ranges linked to appropriate ventilation strategies. This could be expected to result in reduced energy consumption and carbon emissions for new build homes compared to the current approach and would also potentially lead to better outcomes for occupants in terms of indoor air quality. Practical application: Analysis of a large database of the airtightness of new UK dwellings found that ventilation strategy makes very little difference to airtightness design. For dwellings with MVHR, the results suggest that infiltration levels are too high to maximise the energy savings; for naturally ventilated homes, there may be air quality issues. Coupling airtightness design and ventilation strategy can reduce a dwelling’s energy demand and can support achieving the required energy performance rating.


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