scholarly journals Energy-Efficient Envelope Design for Apartment Blocks—Case Study of A Residential Building in Spain

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 433
Author(s):  
Francisco José Sánchez de la Flor ◽  
Enrique Ángel Rodríguez Jara ◽  
Álvaro Ruiz Pardo ◽  
José Manuel Salmerón Lissén ◽  
Maria Kolokotroni
Keyword(s):  
Optimization Problem ◽  
Residential Building ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Practical Case ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Building Stock ◽  
Existing Building ◽  
Zero Energy Building ◽  
Optimum Solution

Buildings are known to be responsible for about a third of energy consumption in developed countries. This situation, together with the fact that the existing building stock is being renovated at a very slow pace, makes it crucial to focus on the energy retrofitting of buildings as the only way to reduce their contribution to these energy consumptions and the consequences derived from them in terms of pollution and climate change. The same level of insulation and the same type of windows is usually proposed for all dwellings in a building block. This article shows that since the improvements required by each dwelling in the same block are different, the proposed solution must also be different. The methodology is proposed for a practical case consisting of an apartment block in Cádiz, a demonstration building of the European RECO2ST project. To achieve the optimum solution for each case, a multi-objective optimization problem is solved: to minimize the annual heating demand of the building and the standard deviation of the annual demand of the different dwellings. Thanks to the use of the proposed methodology, it is possible to bring the building to a Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) level, while avoiding excessive insulation that causes overheating in summer.

scholarly journals Novel Methodology toward Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) Renovation: Cost-Effective Balance Approach as a Pre-Step to Cost-Optimal Life Cycle Cost Assessment

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 4141
Author(s):  
Yovko Ivanov Antonov ◽  
Per Kvols Heiselberg ◽  
Michal Zbigniew Pomianowski
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Building Stock ◽  
Existing Building ◽  
Zero Energy Building ◽  
Selection Of

Reaching environmental targets set by the European Union (EU) requires a constant renovation of the existing building stock to nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) in a cost-optimal manner. Studies show that the renovation rate of the existing building stock is more than two times less than what is necessary to reach the targets. Furthermore, the majority of performed renovations across the EU reach just a small amount of energy savings, whereas NZEB renovations are rarely achieved. This paper proposes a methodology for the evaluation of renovation measures, aiming to provide decision support related to the selection of what to renovate and to what extent. The proposed method is rooted in the well-established cost-optimal methodology, yet it suggests a pre-step to package evaluation. This is done by means of a simplified cost-effective parameter (CEP), linking cost, lifetime, and energy savings. The methodology is demonstrated using a case study building in Denmark. The results show that the CEP provides good grounds for the compilation of single actions to packages. Further developments could focus on the sensitivity of the model inputs and integration of additional evaluation parameters to cost, such as environmental, architectural, comfort, risk, etc.

scholarly journals Sustainable Urban Regeneration through Densification Strategies: The Kallithea District in Athens as a Pilot Case Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (22) ◽  
pp. 9462
Author(s):  
Annarita Ferrante ◽  
Anastasia Fotopoulou ◽  
Cecilia Mazzoli
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Vulnerability ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Construction Sector ◽  
Existing Buildings ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Building Stock ◽  
Existing Building ◽  
Innovative Methods ◽  
European Policies

The current main issue in the construction sector in Europe concerns the energy refurbishment and the reactivation of investments in existing buildings. Guidance for enhancing energy efficiency and encouraging member states to create a market for deep renovation is provided by a number of European policies. Innovative methods and strategies are required to attract and involve citizens and main stakeholders to undertake buildings’ renovation processes, which actually account for just 1% of the total building stock. This contribution proposes technical and financial solutions for the promotion of energy efficient, safe, and attractive retrofit interventions based on the creation of volumetric additions combined with renewable energy sources. This paper focuses on the urban reality of Athens as being an important example of a degraded urban center with a heavy heat island, a quite important heating demand, and a strong seismic vulnerability. The design solutions presented here demonstrate that the strategy of additions, because of the consequent increased value of the buildings, could represent an effective densification policy for the renovation of existing urban settings. Hence, the aim is to trigger regulatory and market reforms with the aim to boost the revolution towards nearly zero energy buildings for the existing building stocks.

scholarly journals Modern Concepts of Energy-Efficient Civil and Residential Buildings. Case Study: Analysis of a Residential Building According to Nzeb Criteria

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-45
Author(s):  
A. Vasiliu ◽  
Otilia Nedelcu ◽  
I. C. Sălişteanu ◽  
O. Magdun
Keyword(s):  
Housing Stock ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Residential Building ◽  
Low Energy ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Passive Construction ◽  
Zero Energy Building ◽  
Minimum Requirements ◽  
Oil Crisis

Abstract The oil crisis, the measures taken because of global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions, the ecological actions carried out globally and the technical progress in the fields of electronics, energy, IT and telecommunications have led to the emergence Passive House concepts in the construction sector, of Passive Solar Building (passive construction based on solar energy), of Net Zero-Energy Building NZEB, of Plus Energy Building, of nearly Zero Energy Building nZEB, of Low-Energy Building, of Green House, of Zero Carbon House, of Smart House, of Healthy buildings and other equivalents or derivatives. In this paper, these concepts will be cross-debated and the measures adopted at EU level and the influences exerted on the Romanian legislation on the field of civil and residential constructions will be presented. Based on a case study, a residential construction will be characterized, representative of the current housing stock, in order to assess the degree of compliance with the minimum requirements of a house with low energy consumption, imposed by Romanian legislation in the field.

scholarly journals A Sustainable Approach towards the Retrofit of the Public Housing Building Stock: Energy-Architectural Experimental and Numerical Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 2881
Author(s):  
Federica Rosso ◽  
Arianna Peduzzi ◽  
Lorenzo Diana ◽  
Stefano Cascone ◽  
Carlo Cecere
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Agricultural Waste ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Residential Building ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Building Stock ◽  
Existing Building ◽  
The Public

Nowadays, energy retrofit interventions on the existing building stock are of paramount importance towards energy consumption and emissions reductions in the construction sector. Such interventions are also crucial in the view of increasing cities resilience with respect to the intensification of frequent extreme weather events, such as cold spells and heatwaves. Indeed, a wide portion of our cities is dated and lacking with respect to performances. These are the motivations behind the proposed sustainable approach, which deals with the environmental perspective, but also with social and economic ones, by proposing the retrofit of the Public Residential Building stock (Edilizia Residenziale Pubblica, ERP). The objective is to improve the energy performance of ERP stock by means of construction materials coming from local km0 agricultural waste and by-products. The research was conducted by means of in field and numerical analyses of the energy performances of a relevant case study building. Different layers of bio-based, recycled construction materials for the envelope were tested with respect to their efficacy in improving the energy performance of a case study building. The results demonstrate that the most performing envelope solutions and their combination are able to reduce up to 36% of the yearly energy consumption for heating.

scholarly journals Climate Change Effects on Belgian Households: A Case Study of a Nearly Zero Energy Building

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (20) ◽  
pp. 5357
Author(s):  
Shady Attia ◽  
Camille Gobin
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Thermal Adaptation ◽  
Residential Building ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Reference Case ◽  
Intergovernmental Panel ◽  
Zero Energy Building ◽  
The Impact

Overheating in residential building is a challenging problem that causes thermal discomfort, productivity reduction, and health problems. This paper aims to assess the climate change impact on thermal comfort in a Belgian reference case. The case study represents a nearly zero energy building that operates without active cooling during summer. The study quantifies the impact of climate change on overheating risks using three representative concentration pathway (RCP) trajectories for greenhouse gas concentration adopted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Building performance analysis is carried out using a multizone dynamic simulation program EnergyPlus. The results show that bioclimatic and thermal adaptation strategies, including adaptive thermal comfort models, cannot suppress the effect of global warming. By 2050, zero energy buildings will be vulnerable to overheating.

scholarly journals An Analytical Approach for the Selection of Technologies to be Integrated in a Plug&play Façade Unit: The RenoZEB Case Study

Proceedings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
Alessandro Pracucci ◽  
Sara Magnani ◽  
Laura Vandi ◽  
Oscar Casadei ◽  
Amaia Uriarte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Building Envelope ◽  
Design System ◽  
Decision Matrix ◽  
Design Guideline ◽  
Existing Building ◽  
Building Conditions ◽  
Zero Energy Building ◽  
System A ◽  
Selection Of

The nearly Zero Energy building (nZEB) renovation market is currently the key feature in the construction sector. RenoZEB aims to develop a systematic approach for retrofitting by assembling different technologies in a plug and play building envelope. This paper presents the methodology used to transform the RenoZEB concept in the design system. A multi-criteria decision matrix is used for the selection of the best façade technologies within the market while the analysis of the existing building conditions allows to develop a replicable approach for designing deep retrofitting intervention through a plug&play façade. The methodology appears to be a valuable support for the selection of technologies and allows to define a design guideline for the envelope.

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.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document