scholarly journals Influence of Input Climatic Data on Simulations of Annual Energy Needs of a Building: EnergyPlus and WRF Modeling for a Case Study in Rome (Italy)

Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2835 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virgilio Ciancio ◽  
Serena Falasca ◽  
Iacopo Golasi ◽  
Gabriele Curci ◽  
Massimo Coppi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Wrf Model ◽  
Local Heat ◽  
Climatic Data ◽  
Heat Island ◽  
Meteorological Model ◽  
Energy Needs ◽  
Wrf Modeling

The simulation of the energy consumptions in an hourly regime is necessary in order to perform calculations on residential buildings of particular relevance for volume or for architectural features. In such cases, the simplified methodology provided by the regulations may be inadequate, and the use of software like EnergyPlus is needed. To obtain reliable results, usually, significant time is spent on the meticulous insertion of the geometrical inputs of the building, together with the properties of the envelope materials and systems. Less attention is paid to the climate database. The databases available on the EnergyPlus website refer to airports located in rural areas near major cities. If the building to be simulated is located in a metropolitan area, it may be affected by the local heat island, and the database used as input to the software should take this phenomenon into account. To this end, it is useful to use a meteorological model such as the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model to construct an appropriate input climate file. A case study based on a building located in the city center of Rome (Italy) shows that, if the climatic forcing linked to the heat island is not considered, the estimated consumption due to the cooling is underestimated by 35–50%. In particular, the analysis and the seasonal comparison between the energy needs of the building simulated by EnergyPlus, with the climatic inputs related to two airports in the rural area of Rome and with the inputs provided by the WRF model related to the center of Rome, show discrepancies of about (i) WRF vs. Fiumicino (FCO): Δ = −3.48% for heating, Δ = 49.25% for cooling; (ii) WRF vs. Ciampino (CIA): Δ = −7.38% for heating, Δ = +35.52% for cooling.

scholarly journals Consequences of Promoting Less-Populated Rural Areas to Urban Areas: A Case Study, Bushehr Province

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-100
Author(s):  
Ali Bastin
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Urban System ◽  
Population Data ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Positive Outcomes ◽  
Negative Consequences

The modified law of Iranian Administrative divisions has greatly altered the pattern of settlement in recent decades. The promotion of rural areas to urban areas has shifted from mere population standard to combined population-administrative standards. However, all censuses suggest that many rural areas reported as smaller than the minimum population standard have been promoted to urban areas. In the last two decades, this is a clearly prominent phenomenon in the urban system of Iran. This paper evaluates the effects and consequences of promoting small and sparsely populated rural areas to urban areas in the Bushehr province. The used methodology is analytic-descriptive using a questionnaire distributed among 380 members of the target population. Data analysis is conducted in physical, economic, social and urban servicing domains using one-sample T-test and the utility range. The results show that promotion of rural areas to urban areas has positive outcomes such as improved waste disposal system, improved quality of residential buildings, increased monitoring of the construction, increased income, prevented migration and improved health services. However, the results of utility range show that the negative consequences of this policy are more than its positive outcomes, which have been studied in detail.

scholarly journals Analysis of heat source selection for residential buildings in rural areas

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 02034 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomasz Szul
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Single Family ◽  
Output Capacity ◽  
Source Selection ◽  
Energy Needs ◽  
Actual Use ◽  
The Mean

The research aiming to check whether the output of currently installed boilers matches the use requirements together with estimation of their energy efficiency was carried out on a group of 84 single-family residential buildings located in rural areas. Heating and hot water energy needs were calculated for each building in order to determine the use requirements. This enabled verification whether the currently installed boilers match the actual use requirements in the buildings. Based on the calculations it was determined that the designed average boiler output in the group of buildings subject to analysis is 15.7 kW, whereas the mean rated output capacity of boilers installed therein is 25.4 kW. On average, the output capacity of the installed boilers exceeds the use requirements for the buildings by 60%. To calculate the energy efficiency of boilers, the mean annual boiler output capacity use coefficient was determined. For boilers selected on the basis of standard calculations, the mean coefficient is 0.47. For boilers currently in use it is 0.31, less than the above figure. The above calculations show that if boilers were correctly selected in compliance to the building needs, then the average estimated seasonal efficiency of 65% would be feasible. However, in the current state the achievable efficiency is approx. 55%.

scholarly journals Smart Energy Access and Women Empowerment: A Case Study of Chitandika Village in Zambia

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 117-128
Author(s):  
Mantubwe Wampata ◽  
Bupe Getrude Mwanza
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Women Empowerment ◽  
Energy Access ◽  
Energy Company ◽  
Qualitative Thematic Analysis ◽  
Energy Needs ◽  
Depth Interview ◽  
Energy Projects ◽  
Energy Companies

Smart energy access provides numerous advantages in rural areas such as economic development and improved livelihood. Despite the efforts by energy companies to supply to rural areas, women still face a range of constraints in their ability to participate in energy activities. Therefore, this study sought to analyze the goals of access to smart energy on women empowerment from the energy company perspective, assess the extent to which access to smart energy has contributed to empowerment and to establish the challenges faced by women in accessing smart energy with the intent of outlining strategies for future implementation. The study used a qualitative thematic analysis approach. The data was collected through structured, open-ended interviews with 20 women respondents with access to energy in chitandika village and 1 in-depth interview with the key energy expert. The study found that access to smart energy in chitandika village had a positive effect on women empowerment as it provided several benefits for the women. Additionally, the study established general and specific challenges that women face in accessing smart energy. Furthermore, it was established that the key strategies for implementing smart energy access on women empowerment were gender mainstream in energy projects, understanding women’s energy needs and demands, promoting productive use, supporting credit, and saving schemes and promoting skill development.

scholarly journals Sector coupling of renewable energy in an experimental setting

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 38-44
Author(s):  
Michael Ornetzeder ◽  
Tanja Sinozic
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Path Dependency ◽  
Energy Needs ◽  
Sustainable Energy System ◽  
Favorable Conditions ◽  
System Focus

The integration of previously unconnected sectors of the energy system is considered one of the most important strategies for reducing CO2 emissions. Many studies on technological innovations that deal with the transition to a sustainable energy system focus on innovation niches as a favorable environment within which new solutions can be tested and made ready for the market. This paper examines how protection in such a niche, in combination with organizational path dependency, supports the integration of renewable energy in residential buildings. The results presented are based on a case study on the integration of the electricity, heat, and gas sectors in a housing pilot project, in which local energy needs are met and electricity is fed into the grid in a flexible way. Our findings indicate that favorable conditions for inter-sectoral innovation can be achieved through niche protection, complemented by path dependency in organizational routines and culture.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the energy performance of Zero Energy residential Buildings: complexity of dynamic simulations and results variability

2021 ◽  
Vol 312 ◽  
pp. 06002
Author(s):  
Silvia Di Turi ◽  
Ilaria Falcone ◽  
Iole Nardi ◽  
Laura Ronchetti ◽  
Nicolandrea Calabrese
Keyword(s):  
Natural Ventilation ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Residential Building ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Climatic Data ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Dynamic Simulations ◽  
Zero Energy Building ◽  
Energy Needs ◽  
Definition Of

Due to its energy and environmental impact, the building sector has become a challenging field in order to fulfil the need for energy renovation and obtain low-consumption buildings. The main issue, for those who approach the feasible design of a Zero Energy Building (ZEB), is to assess, in the most realistic way possible, the thermal and energy needs and the energy production of the building, properly considering all the possible variables. Through the analysis of a newly built residential building case study, this work aims at showing the complexity of the ZEB design, analysing the energy performance as the design choices vary. After characterizing envelope and systems components, potential variations in the model are highlighted by applying a set of updated climatic data, varying occupancy, shading systems and natural ventilation functioning, often neglected. It leads to a wide and differentiated range of results, consequently influenced by the design phase. The work aims at providing, in the definition of the energy performance of the building, an evaluation of the variations obtained from the variables analysed that in the modelling phase are normally considered as a boundary but which instead play a key role for achieving the ZEB objective.

scholarly journals Energy and Environmental Effects of Human Habits in Residential Buildings Due to COVID-19 Outbreak Scenarios in a Dwelling near Rome

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (21) ◽  
pp. 7408
Author(s):  
Domenico Palladino ◽  
Silvia Di Di Turi ◽  
Iole Nardi
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Environmental Effects ◽  
Calculation Method ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Residential Building ◽  
Hvac Systems ◽  
Cooling Period ◽  
Energy Needs ◽  
Containment Measures

The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting containment measures have shown that energy consumption in buildings is linked to several factors, such as living habits, occupancy profiles, and heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. This paper addresses the influences of such factors on energy consumption in a residential building, analysing different scenarios (pre-COVID-19, lockdown, post-COVID-19), in terms of discomfort and energy needs, through the new hourly calculation method (UNI EN ISO 52016). Energy and environmental effects were studied in a real case study near Rome by varying occupancy profiles, lighting and appliance schedules, and HVAC systems. Results show that, during the heating period, the lockdown scenario led to the lowest hours of discomfort (−29% on average), but the highest in the cooling period (up to +154%, +28% on average). The same scenario led to reasonable reduction of energy needs for heating (−14%), but also highlighted a significant increase (+60%) for the cooling period. This study underlines how the pandemic has influenced the energy and environmental behaviours in buildings. Moreover, the new hourly calculation method points out the importance of analysing HVAC systems, in terms of hours of discomfort, which could provide results that are more reliable.

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