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 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 Integration of Prioritisation Criteria in the Design of Energy Efficient Retrofitting Projects at District Scale: A Case Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (14) ◽  
pp. 3861 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Á. García-Fuentes ◽  
Sonia Álvarez ◽  
Víctor Serna ◽  
Maxime Pousse ◽  
Alberto Meiss
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Energy Efficient ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Building Stock ◽  
Existing Building ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Selection Of

The evident need for improving the existing building stock still suffers from important barriers, such as the fragmentation of the value chain, the lack of information regarding some solutions, and the lack of confidence with respect to energy savings, which prevent unlocking investments, and the difficult communication among stakeholders. Therefore, new processes based on exploiting the potential of existing and new tools are required. In this framework, the OptEEmAL project has developed a tool that integrates stakeholders, data and tools in order to ease the process of designing energy efficient retrofitting projects at building and district scale. This tool works around an optimisation framework in order to evaluate, compare and optimise candidate retrofitting scenarios against a set of indicators showing the performance of the district. This evaluation and optimisation method is based on aggregating indicators through transforming the priorities of stakeholders into a mathematical weighting scheme, which makes it possible to provide scenarios within their expectations. Therefore, the generation of these scenarios is driven by their design parameters, being thus flexible and adapted to their needs. This paper shows the implementation of this tool and specifically 3 different prioritisation schemes, analysing how they impact into the decision making process and selection of the retrofitting strategy.

scholarly journals ModSCO a Web Application Based on a Grey-Box Model to Support the Estimation of the Energy Savings in Building Retrofits

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Alessandro Piccinini ◽  
Federico Seri ◽  
Letizia D’Angelo ◽  
Shima Yousefigarjan ◽  
Marcus M. Keane
Keyword(s):  
Web Application ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Box Model ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Building Stock ◽  
Existing Building ◽  
Performance Contracting ◽  
The Cost

Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) can help the European Union (EU) in accelerating the cost-effective renovation of existing building stock. However, there are many risks and barriers that can inhibit the application of EPC. These barriers include uncertainty about building data, lack of quality assurance regarding the post-renovation energy performance, and process complexity. In order to cross these barriers, this paper presents ModSCO. ModSCO is a web application based on a Reduced Order grey-box Model (ROM) able to systematically quantify the energy savings achieved through Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) utilising the schema of the International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol (IPMVP). The benefits of utilising ModSCO in terms of accuracy and time savings are demonstrated with a comparison with a whole building energy model developed with IES-VE.

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.

Deep renovation up to zero energy through Add-ons: the ABRACADABRA Project

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annarita Ferrante ◽  
Fabrizio Ungaro ◽  
Giovanni Semprini ◽  
Lorna Dragonetti ◽  
Elettra Agliardi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effective ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Urban Context ◽  
Building Stock ◽  
Existing Building ◽  
The Real Estate ◽  
International Projects ◽  
Eu Project ◽  
The Eu

<p>and international projects</p><p>various EU H2020 projects</p><p>Though housing is one of the most energy consumer sectors, it is currently extremely underestimated, because of a clear investment gap due to economic, social and legislative barriers. The EU project ABRACADABRA (Assistant Building to Retrofit, Adopt, Cure And Develop the Actual Buildings up to zeRo energy, Activating a market for deep renovation) is based on the idea that the real estate value increase given by the appropriate densification strategy in urban environments could be an opportunity to activate a market for deep energy renovation. To prove the effectiveness of the strategy more than 70 case studies throughout the EU cities have been assessed by means of a cost-effective analysis. Basing on the parametric variation of the different values involved (cost of construction, energy, etc.) the benefit of this strategy has been proved in the majority of the different building types and contexts.</p><p>More interestingly, the ABRA strategy has been simulated and tested outside Europe in order to verify its scalability and the possibility of considering other non-energy related benefits in the renovation of the existing building stock. A specific study on the NYC urban context has been conducted to effectively adapt the strategy and combine the global drivers of energy consumption reduction and CO<span>2</span> emission reduction with the local need of combating flood emergency and related flood-proofing measures.</p><p>The results reached by this work demonstrate how the energy retrofit trough add-ons reduces significantly the payback times of the investments, preserve soil consumption, while providing a extraordinary opportunity to enhance urban resiliency by challenging the local emergencies.</p>

scholarly journals How will climate alter efficiency objectives? Simulated impact of using recent versus historic european weather data for the cost-optimal design of nearly zero energy buildings (NZEBs)

2019 ◽  
Vol 111 ◽  
pp. 04051
Author(s):  
Delia D’Agostino ◽  
Danny S. Parker
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Weather Data ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Economic Optimization ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Efficiency Measures ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Zero Energy Buildings

Achieving “nearly zero energy buildings” (NZEB) has been established as a vital objective over the next decade within the European Union (EU) [1,2]. Previous work has shown that a series of very cost effective thermal efficiency measures, equipment, appliance and renewable energy choices are available across climates to reach the NZEB objective. Resulting detailed energy and economic optimization findings have been obtained and published [3,4]. One area that has just begun to be explored, however, is how selection of weather files and their application against coming climate change can influence outcomes from energy optimization procedures.

scholarly journals How to Prioritize Energy Efficiency Intervention in Municipal Public Buildings to Decrease CO2 Emissions? A Case Study from Italy

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 4434
Author(s):  
Filomena Pietrapertosa ◽  
Marco Tancredi ◽  
Michele Giordano ◽  
Carmelina Cosmi ◽  
Monica Salvia
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Public Buildings ◽  
Building Stock ◽  
End Use ◽  
Climate Crisis

The European Union 2050 climate neutrality goal and the climate crisis require coordinated efforts to reduce energy consumption in all sectors, and mainly in buildings greatly affected by the increasing temperature, with relevant CO2 emissions due to inefficient end-use technologies. Moreover, the old building stock of most countries requires suited policies to support renovation programs aimed at improving energy performances and optimize energy uses. A toolbox was developed in the framework of the PrioritEE project to provide policy makers and technicians with a wide set of tools to support energy efficiency in Municipal Public Buildings. The toolbox, available for free, was tested in the partners’ communities, proving its effectiveness. The paper illustrates its application to the Potenza Municipality case study in which the online calculator DSTool (the core instrument of the toolbox) was utilized to select and prioritize the energy efficiency interventions in public buildings implementable in a three-year action plan in terms of costs, energy savings, CO2 emissions’ reduction and return on investments. The results highlight that improvements in the building envelopes (walls and roofs), heating and lighting and photovoltaic systems allow reducing CO2 emission approximately 644 t/year and saving about 2050 MWh/year with a total three-year investment of 1,728,823 EUR.

scholarly journals Analysis of Primary Energy Factors from Photovoltaic Systems for a Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB): A Case Study in Lithuania

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 4099 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rokas Tamašauskas ◽  
Jolanta Šadauskienė ◽  
Dorota Anna Krawczyk ◽  
Violeta Medelienė
Keyword(s):  
Energy Savings ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Photovoltaic Systems ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Energy Factor ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Pv Systems ◽  
Zero Energy Building ◽  
Energy Factors

Following a new climate and energy plan, the European Union (EU) gives big attention to energy savings. The overall assessment of energy saving measures is very important. Thus, it is crucial to estimate in a proper way the primary energy factor, which is used in calculations of primary energy consumption from renewable energy (RE) sources in a Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB). The conduced studies of the literature and national regulations showed that different methods to determine energy from photovoltaic (PV) systems are used. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the primary energy factors of energy from photovoltaics and determine the average value. To achieve this aim, the data of 30 photovoltaic systems from Lithuania were analyzed. The results show a 35% diversification in the values of non-renewable primary energy factor, depending on the PV systems’ capacities, with the average on a level of 1.038.

scholarly journals Towards the EU Emission Targets of 2050: Cost-Effective Emission Reduction in Finnish Detached Houses

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (22) ◽  
pp. 4395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janne Hirvonen ◽  
Juha Jokisalo ◽  
Juhani Heljo ◽  
Risto Kosonen
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Heat Pumps ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Building Stock ◽  
Ground Source Heat Pumps ◽  
Emission Reductions ◽  
Heating Systems ◽  
Ground Source

To mitigate the effects of climate change, the European Union calls for major carbon emission reductions in the building sector through a deep renovation of the existing building stock. This study examines the cost-effective energy retrofit measures in Finnish detached houses. The Finnish detached house building stock was divided into four age classes according to the building code in effect at the time of their construction. Multi-objective optimization with a genetic algorithm was used to minimize the life cycle cost and CO2 emissions in each building type for five different main heating systems (district heating, wood/oil boiler, direct electric heating, and ground-source heat pump) by improving the building envelope and systems. Cost-effective emission reductions were possible with all heating systems, but especially with ground-source heat pumps. Replacing oil boilers with ground-source heat pumps (GSHPs), emissions could be reduced by 79% to 92% across all the studied detached houses and investment levels. With all the other heating systems, emission reductions of 20% to 75% were possible. The most cost-effective individual renovation measures were the installation of air-to-air heat pumps for auxiliary heating and improving the thermal insulation of external walls.

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