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A Review on buildings energy consumption information
Abstract
The rapidly growing world energy use has already raised concerns over supply difficulties, exhaustion of energy resources and heavy environmental impacts (ozone layer depletion, global warming, climate change, etc.). The global contribution from buildings towards energy consumption, both residential and commercial, has steadily increased reaching figures between 20% and 40% in developed countries, and has exceeded the other major sectors: industrial and transportation. Growth in population, increasing demand for building services and comfort levels, together with the rise in time spent inside buildings, assure the upward trend in energy demand will continue in the future. For this reason, energy efficiency in buildings is today a prime objective for energy policy at regional, national and international levels. Among building services, the growth in HVAC systems energy use is particularly significant (50% of building consumption and 20% of total consumption in the USA). This paper analyses available information concerning energy consumption in buildings, and particularly related to HVAC systems. Many questions arise: Is the necessary information available? Which are the main building types? What end uses should be considered in the breakdown? Comparisons between different countries are presented specially for commercial buildings. The case of offices is analysed in deeper detail.
... urbanog stanovništva biti 67 % [5]. Rezultati brze urbanizacije su ekološki problemi (buka, zagađenje, urbani toplinski otok) i ozbiljna prijetnja kvaliteti urbanog života [6]. S druge strane, rast stanovništva, veće potrebe za građevinskim uslugama, kao i porast vremena provedenog unutar zgrada, uzrokovali su trend rasta potrošnje energije [6]. ...
... Rezultati brze urbanizacije su ekološki problemi (buka, zagađenje, urbani toplinski otok) i ozbiljna prijetnja kvaliteti urbanog života [6]. S druge strane, rast stanovništva, veće potrebe za građevinskim uslugama, kao i porast vremena provedenog unutar zgrada, uzrokovali su trend rasta potrošnje energije [6]. Gradovi imaju visoku razinu potrošnje energije koja se može nadoknaditi korištenjem obnovljivih izvora energije, iskorištavanjem karakteristika urbanog okruženja [7]. ...
Adaptation to climate change in cities is essential, and vertical greenery systems (VGSs) are used as a means of restoring the urban areas’ ecological integrity. This paper presents the classification, typology, and benefits of the VGS for the energy performance of buildings. To analyse its energy and environmental impacts, the use of VGS was simulated on the façades of residential buildings in the urban area of the City of Banja Luka. The results showed that VGS reduced the temperature of the wall and air in and around the buildings, as well as the emission of CO2 in the air.
... This figure is likely to increase in the future due to population expansion, development, increased demand for improved building services and comfort levels, and increased time spent in buildings. This conclusion is supported by the annual increase rate of building energy consumption in several countries Fig. 1, derived from Pérez-Lombard et al. [5] and Nazi et al. [6]. Changes in sustainable building laws, legislation and incentives emphasize the need for improved building energy efficiency. ...
... Another simulation procedure for an existing building in the same country found that various retrofitting measures such as window replacement; integrating solar screens; using heat recovery systems; optimizing the operation of heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) systems; and installing PV panels could provide annual reductions of 81% and 45% for energy demand and energy costs, respectively [23]. Lucchi [24] conducted a critical review of the application of infrared thermography as a visualization method for auditing building energy Fig. 1: Annual growth rate of building energy demand by country [5] consumption. The study examined how this method can be utilized to detect excessive heat walls and test building insulation, enabling standard and detailed energy audits. ...
Building retrofit procedures play a crucial role in improving the energy performance and economic indicators of a building. In this context, an energy audit is typically recommended, but it is seldom used as a comprehensive approach due to the complexity and associated costs. This article aims to conduct a holistic energy audit approach for a university building in Malaysia, with the objective of diagnosing energy efficiency deficiencies, identifying areas of energy waste and proposing practical retrofit measures accordingly. The approach involved multiple stages, including measurements, surveys and simulation work. Eight energy-saving measures were proposed, targeting improvements in envelope elements, cooling and lighting systems, and operation and control. The Design-Builder software was utilized for energy simulation, assessing the annual energy savings. Economic evaluation indices, such as net present value and simple payback period, were used to assess the economic feasibility of the measures. The results demonstrated significant potential for energy reduction, with each measure achieving annual energy reductions ranging from 2% to 18%, and a cumulative impact of 41% on annual energy consumption when combined. The investment payback period for the energy-saving measures varied from 0.8 to 8.9 years, with a payback period of 3.9 years for the combined energy-saving measures. Furthermore, the net present value was positive, indicating the economic feasibility of investing in the proposed energy-saving measures. These findings provide valuable energy-saving opportunities that can be applied to improve similar buildings on the university campus.
... Data provided by the International Energy Agency (IEA) reveal that primary energy and carbon dioxide emissions have increased by 43% and 49% respectively from 1984 to 2004 with an average annual growth of approximately 2% (Pérez-Lombard et al., 2008). This growth continues as the global energy consumption's average rate doubled in 2018 to reach 2.3% compared to its growth in 2010, leading to an increase of carbon dioxide emission by 1.7% (IEA, 2019). ...
... The construction industry is responsible of 20% to 40% of energy consumption worldwide, exceeding the industrial and transportation sectors (Pérez-Lombard et al., 2008). In Oman, the construction industry especially the residential building sector, has seen a growing development in the past few decades which creates an increase demand on energy. ...
This research studies the possible reduction in energy consumption and peak cooling demand
in the residential sector if an energy efficient building code is implemented in Oman’s
residential sector.
A validated base case model for a typical residential building was created using EnergyPlus as
a simulation engine covering the various climatic zones of Oman under current and future
climates. The performance of the different design cases was analysed based on the
percentage reduction in total energy consumption and peak cooling load. The results showed
that a reduction between 19.2% and 28.1% in energy consumption and 36.5% to 27.5% in
peak cooling demand can be achieved if appropriate building codes are implemented.
Therefore, this study demands necessary actions to be taken to develop and enforce a
national building code to improve sustainability in Oman’s built environment
... Building codes and green building standards increasingly regulate airtight construction for energy efficiency. It gives rise to significant extra energy use for ventilation, which may take 40% of the primary energy use [62]. Low-cost renewable microalgal air-remedying systems can offer a useful option in this context. ...
Microalgae-based photobioreactors (PBRs) have gained attention as a sustainable solution for indoor air quality (IAQ) control. This study investigates indoor CO2 absorption performance of Spirulina maxima (S. maxima) in NaHCO3-limited cultivation (standard: NaHCO3-free medium = 1:1 v/v%) of a lab-scale PBR system. Cultivation performance of three medium amendments (standard, 50% NaHCO3, and NaHCO3-free) was compared by observing cell growth for 30 days in a controlled environment. Empirical examinations were conducted to evaluate the algal CO2 uptake, and overall system performance in the culture volumes of 2, 4, and 7 L and natural indoor CO2 concentration of ~1100 ppm. We found CO2 was reduced by ~55%, in an air chamber of 0.064 m3, showing the greatest mitigation rate (~20%) on Day 4. Under a high concentration of CO2 (10,000 ppm), the CO2 levels were decreased up to ~90% before saturation. This research provides valuable insights into the development of S. maxima-activated IAQ control systems for airtight buildings.
... Furthermore, because most people spend more than 90% of their time inside [2], it is imperative to develop fossil fuelfree HVAC systems that are energy-efficient in order to reduce energy consumption. A more detailed look at the amount of energy used worldwide by HVAC equipment yields some startling statistics: In the US, HVAC systems use more than 50% of the energy used in buildings [3]. Over the past 20 years, China's building energy consumption has increased steadily at a rate of ISSN (Online) : 2583-0619 3 ...
The domain of Waste Heat Recovery is particularly crucial for countries facing energy consumption deficiencies. Stringent environmental regulations act as a catalyst, propelling the evolution of innovative technologies and equipment. Striking a balance between economically viable, technically feasible, and environmentally sound waste heat recovery methods is imperative, extending beyond Air Conditioners to encompass various processes. Swift advancements are required to effectively recover waste heat from diverse processes. HVAC systems, like many engineering systems, generate waste heat that holds the potential for recovery and reuse in alternative applications. This study focuses on exploring noble recovery methods, utilizing hot air reclaimed from the con-denser of an HVAC system, determined through mass and energy balance considerations. Numerous experimental and theoretical investigations have been undertaken on High-Performance Heat Exchangers (HPHE) since Akachi first proposed them in 1990. However, due to the intricate interplay of hydrodynamics and thermodynamics, the operational mechanism of HPHE remains highly complex and not entirely elucidated. With high expectations for HPHE applications in the HVAC and Refrigeration (R) sector, this paper undertakes a comprehensive review of its development. It systematically summarizes the latest findings from both experimental and theoretical studies, with a specific focus on the HVAC and R field. Additionally, the paper highlights promising and innovative applications of HPHE. The intention is to furnish a foundational reference for future research endeavors in this evolving field.
... In the context of global low-carbon development, optimizing building energy consumption has become crucial. With increasing comfort requirements, HVAC systems and their associated energy consumption play a significant role, accounting for nearly half of the building energy consumption [39]. Energy Use Intensity (EUI), a widely used energy metric, typically includes annual heating, cooling, and artificial lighting loads of a building [28,40]. ...
Skylights are an efficient means of daylighting in exhibition spaces, but their design presents significant challenges. Considering that daylight utilization profoundly impacts both the visual and thermal environments while affecting energy consumption, the early application of multi-objective optimization strategies becomes imperative. However, many optimization studies provide numerical references only, without delving into the characteristics of opening distribution. This study introduces an optimized exploration approach for openings based on grid subdivision and material parameter selection, targeting Useful Daylight Illuminance (UDI), Energy Use Intensity (EUI), and Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied (PPD). Simulations and optimizations were performed using Honeybee and Octopus, focusing on the optimal configurations of four typical skylights in Fukuoka, Japan’s climate. The results demonstrate that this novel optimization approach improves metrics for each case and challenges traditional perceptions of daylight systems. Flexible and diverse opening configurations, formed through irregular layouts and material combinations, help achieve more ideal holistic environmental effects under different climatic conditions. Thus, we should provide these research findings as design guidelines for similar scenarios.
... It is estimated that buildings are responsible for 6% of global GHG emissions (US-EPA 2022) along with ~ 40% of global energy, 25% of global water, and 40% of global resources (Cooper et al. 2015;Karadimou and Markatos 2015). Pérez-Lombard et al. (2008) reported that HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems account for 50% of building consumption, which translates into high energy consumption, operational costs, and GHG emissions (Xu et al. 2021). ...
This paper presents the global research landscape and scientific progress on occupant thermal comfort in naturally ventilated buildings (OTC-NVB). Despite the growing interest in the area, comprehensive papers on the current status and future developments on the topic are currently lacking. Hence, the publication trends, bibliometric analysis, and systematic literature review of the published documents on OTC-NVB were examined. The search query “Thermal Comfort” AND “Natural Ventilation” AND “Buildings” was designed and executed to recover related documents on the topic from the Elsevier Scopus database. Results showed that 976 documents (comprising articles, conference papers, reviews, etc.) were published on the topic from 1995 to 2021. Further analysis showed that 97.34% of the publications were published in the English language. Richard J.de Dear (University of Sydney, Australia) is the most prolific researcher on OTC-NVB research, while Energy and Buildings has the highest publications. Bibliometric analysis showed high publications, citations, keywords, and co-authorships among researchers, whereas the most occurrent keywords are ventilation, natural ventilation, thermal comfort, buildings, and air conditioning. Systematic literature review demonstrated that OTC-NVB research has progressed significantly from empirical to computer-based studies involving complex mathematical equations, programs, or software like artificial neural networks (ANN) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). In general, OTC-NVB research findings indicate that physiological, social, and environmental factors considerably influence OTC in NVBs. Future studies will likely employ artificial intelligence or building performance simulation (BPS) tools to examine relationships between OTC and indoor air/environmental quality, human behavior, novel clothing, or building materials in NVBs.
... Most previous research has ignored the spatial distribution information of buildings in its various energy consumption analyses [13][14][15][16]. Using a spatial regression model, it has been found that the distribution of LEED-certified buildings show a clear shift from an original concentration in major coastal cities to a more even distribution across the US [17]. ...
In this research endeavor, we undertook a comprehensive examination of the factors influencing the energy consumption of LEED-certified buildings, employing both a general linear regression model and a spatial delayed regression model. Gaining a profound understanding of energy utilization patterns within LEED-certified structures can significantly contribute to advancing eco-friendly construction practices. Our investigation draws upon data from a 2010 study conducted at the University of Wisconsin—Madison (UW), encompassing various independent variables, such as temperature, that exhibit some degree of correlation with energy consumption in LEED-certified buildings. The principal objective of this study is twofold: firstly, to ascertain the significance of specific exogenous variables, notably temperature, and secondly, to explore the impact of spatial factors, such as function and location, on energy usage. Our research framework encompasses meticulous data collection and rigorous analysis, culminating in the presentation and discussion of our findings. Notably, our study unveils intriguing insights. Contrary to conventional assumptions, we discovered that the energy consumption of LEED-certified buildings does not exhibit a robust linear association with average annual temperature, the count of power plants within a 50 mile radius, or the LEED rating itself. However, our spatial regression models unveil a compelling narrative: the geographic distribution and functional diversity of distinct LEED buildings wield discernible influence over energy consumption patterns. The implications of our research resonate profoundly in the realm of LEED-certified building design and construction. Architects, builders, and stakeholders should consider the nuanced interplay of spatial variables and geographical positioning in the pursuit of optimal energy efficiency. Moreover, our findings stimulate further inquiry in this field, paving the way for future investigations aimed at refining sustainable building practices and enhancing our understanding of energy consumption within LEED-certified structures.
... Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems consume a substantial amount of energy in buildings and their functioning has a critical impact on both occupant comfort and indoor environment quality (IEQ). In developed countries, HVAC consumption represents between 40 and 50% of the energy use in buildings, especially in nonresidential buildings, and 20% of the national energy use [2], [3]. As a consequence, improving the energy efficiency of HVAC in buildings will help to achieve the sustainable development goals [4] present in most environmentally concerned countries 1 . ...
The proper operation of Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems is crucial to reduce energy consumption because they are the major consumers of energy in buildings. Prognostic and Health Management Systems (PHMS) can assist both operators and managers of Smart Buildings, anticipating potential problems that can reduce the energy efficiency of the building. However, PHMS usually lack the capability of predicting changes on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to energy consumption. Therefore, having a reliable method to predict the energy demand of a building’s HVAC system is an important complement to a building’s PHMS. This paper proposes a data-driven methodology to create predictive models of energy demand taking into account the effect of weather conditions on energy consumption. The methodology consists of two stages. The first considers the environmental variables affecting the building to identify clusters with similar conditions. For the second stage, Deep Learning Long-short Term Memory (LSTM) models in an encoder-decoder architecture were used. Our proposal is to build two different types of models, named reference cluster and recent models, both being able to predict the total heating demand of a smart building in the short and medium term, one day and one week in advance. The reference cluster model is built with historical data from the distant past for each cluster. The recent model is built with historical data from the immediate past. In this paper we have applied this methodology to a smart educational building: the Alice Perry School of Engineering at the National University of Ireland in Galway. This case study illustrates the methodology and successfully tests its feasibility. Both reference cluster and recent models provide predictions achieving the acceptance criteria in this domain.
... Mathematics 2023, 11, 4630 2 of 24 consumption of buildings [8,9]. This method needs to accurately describe the operating characteristics of the different physical systems of the building, otherwise it is difficult to calculate accurate load values [10]. ...
Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems consume approximately 60% of the total energy consumption in public buildings, and an effective way to reduce HVAC energy consumption is to provide accurate load forecasting. This paper proposes a load forecasting model CEEMDAN-Conv1D-BiLSTM-AM which combines empirical mode decomposition and neural networks. The load data are decomposed into fifteen sub-sequences using complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (CEEMDAN). The neural network inputs consist of the decomposition results and five exogenous variables. The neural networks contain a one-dimensional convolutional layer, a BiLSTM layer, and an attention mechanism layer. The Conv1D is employed to extract deep features from each input variable, while BiLSTM and the attention mechanism layer are used to learn the characteristics of the load time series. The five exogenous variables are selected based on the correlation analysis between external factors and load series, and the number of input steps for the model is determined through autocorrelation analysis of the load series. The performance of CEEMDAN-Conv1D-BiLSTM-AM is compared with that of five other models and the results show that the proposed model has a higher prediction accuracy than other models.
... The building sector accounts for more than 30% of total energy consumption [2], and it is essential to reduce energy consumption through renewable energy building technologies. The cost of maintaining indoor comfort is huge-HVAC energy consumption accounts for 50% of building energy consumption [3], and it is significant to reduce operational energy consumption through energy conversion and utilization approaches. Solar energy possesses the advantages of cleanliness, extensiveness, and continuity [4]. ...
PV windows are seen as potential candidates for conventional windows. Improving the comprehensive performance of PV windows in terms of electrical, optical, and heat transfer has received increasing attention. This paper reviews the development of BIPV façade technologies and summarizes the related experimental and simulation studies. Based on the results of the literature research, the average comprehensive energy-saving rate of BIPV façades can reach 37.18%. Furthermore, limitations and optimization directions of photovoltaic integrated shading devices (PVSDs), photovoltaic double-skin façades, and photovoltaic windows are presented. To improve the energy-saving potential of windows as non-energy efficiency elements of buildings, smart PV windows are proposed to be the key to breakthrough comprehensive performance. However, not all switchable windows concepts can be applied to PV windows. Typical studies on smart windows and PV windows are sorted out to summarize the challenges and optimization of smart PV window technical solutions. Considering the technological innovations in smart PV windows, two requirements of energy-saving materials and building envelopes are put forward. The advances in materials and the building envelope are complementary, which will promote the sophistication and promotion of solar building technology.
... After the energy crises of the 1970s, energy use was given some consideration [1]. Additionally, it has been demonstrated that energy use is quickly rising world [2]. As a result, every country strives to utilize as little energy as possible in a variety of areas, including buildings, farms, industrial processes, and transportation [3]. ...
Given the importance of energy and its role in sustainable gas production, paying special attention to its consumption indicators in all industries, especially oil & gas is very important. The energy consumption index parameter, which equals the ratio of energy consumption to gas production, is one of the most significant indicators of the gas refinery. Artificial intelligence can be used to evaluate the effects of different parameters and find the factors influencing energy performance. Important variables such as inlet gas from various sources, the energy consumption of each part, and the amount of waste refinery gas are collected on different days of the year, then using the least square support vector machine method and networking and sensitivity analysis of the impact of each variable separately. The role of each in this parameter is determined so that it can be used to provide appropriate solutions to reduce energy consumption and the energy consumption index parameter for sustainable gas production. According to the results of this study, the steam unit has a 14 % impact on the energy consumption index, and the gas sweetening unit has an 18 % impact on gas consumption. So, more research on the optimization of these two units is necessary.
... The energy demand in the building sector is steadily increasing with the world population, the level of desired indoor comfort and the time spent inside buildings, reaching between 20% and 40% of energy consumption in developed countries [1]. This sector has therefore an active role to play in the efforts towards a reduction of the global energy demand. ...
... As energy consumption increases, so do carbon emissions, and there is an increasing need to develop new methods to reduce CO 2 emissions. Distributed power generation is one of the possible solutions [2][3][4][5][6], which is a form of power generation that directly generates and supplies power in areas where power supply is needed [7,8]. Distributed power generation includes photovoltaic power generation, wind power generation, cogeneration using waste heat recovery, and fuel cells [9,10]. ...
Research was conducted to improve the system efficiency of a fuel-processing system combined with a hydrogen-purification system to supply hydrogen to a 10 kW residential building proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The system consists of a steam-reforming reactor, a water–gas shift reactor, heat exchangers and a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system, increasing the purity of the produced hydrogen by over 99.97%. Aspen Plus® and Aspen adsorption® simulators were used to optimize operating conditions by calculating thermal efficiency and hydrogen-production yield under various temperature and pressure conditions in the reformer. To optimize the hydrogen-production system, simulations were performed under conditions of 1 to 10 atm and 600 to 1000 °C, and simulations were also performed while maintaining the PSA pressure at 9 atm. The overall system efficiency was expressed as a function of methane conversion, and the methane conversion was expressed as a function of reformer temperature and pressure. The fuel-processing system showed the highest thermal efficiency of 82.40% at a pressure of 1 atm and a temperature range of 800 °C. For the combined system of a fuel-processing system and a hydrogen-purification system, the highest hydrogen-production yield was 43.17% at 800 °C and 1 atm.
... Notably, within the realm of building amenities, the expansion of energy consumption in HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems holds particular significance. In fact, HVAC systems account for 50% of building energy consumption and 20% of overall energy consumption in the United States [1], [2]. Energyefficient buildings offer energy, economic, and environmental benefits. ...
This paper introduces an innovative approach to create cost-effective supply air and return air ducting systems, aiming to optimize indoor conditions in commercial buildings. Following ISHRAE standards and employing CAD Plans, theoretical heat loads are compared with practical E20 Sheet results, ensuring comprehensive accuracy. These calculations drive cubic feet per minute (CFM) determinations, guiding ducting design and equipment selection. Our distinctive contribution lies in seamlessly integrating theoretical and practical data, fortifying system robustness. Furthermore, our commitment to sustainability bolsters energy efficiency. The study concludes by aligning the estimated 80.51 TR equipment capacity with the 70-80 TR range, affirming precision and cost-effectiveness. This work furnishes a pragmatic framework and underscores its relevance in contemporary energy-conscious installations.
... The energy consumption of the conveying system is relatively large. 60% to 70% of the building's large heating power consumption is consumed by fans and pumps that distribute and transport heat and cold [16]. The energy consumption of an air conditioning end unit is closely related to its end form. ...
Energy consumption in the building industry occupies a significant portion of the world’s total energy consumption, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are one of the largest energy consumers in buildings. Therefore, research on energy-saving technologies and measures for HVAC systems is essential. This paper first analyzes the workflow of HVAC systems and the causes of energy consumption, followed by combing and summarizing the existing research on energy-saving technologies for HVAC systems, namely passive energy-saving technologies, active energy-saving technologies and intelligent energy-saving technologies. In order to better understand and apply aforementioned energy-saving technologies, this paper takes a science and technology building built 30 years ago in southwest China as an example and applies the relevant energy-saving technologies to upgrade the HVAC system in a targeted manner.
The goal of this article is to provide an overview of energy-efficient materials and building methods. Energy saving is an essential consideration in building construction. It is possible to increase interior comfort while lowering fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions by designing an energy-efficient building. The energy-efficient building is meant to provide a comfortable environment by ensuring that the temperature is evenly distributed throughout the structure. The approach that was chosen for the research consisted of conducting a systematic literature review, as well as exploring various literatures based on keywords and classifying different methodologies. This research analyses the most recent developments in natural waste, industrial waste, and building approaches to assure thermal comfort and improve energy efficiency. Building design should be developed in accordance with environmental considerations as a primary objective of this review. This study investigates the use of different materials and construction processes, as well as the orientation of buildings, in order to preserve thermal comfort under varying circumstances of temperature, ventilation, and humidity. It also involves the use of different materials and construction methods/building orientations to improve thermal comfort.
With the advent of flexible working arrangements, we are observing a dramatic shift in how buildings are occupied today, which presents the opportunity to optimize Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning system temperature setpoints based on variations in occupancy. Guidelines often suggest the adoption of the highest or lowest setpoint or setback to minimize energy consumption in hot or cold climates, respectively. However, at outdoor temperatures where variations in occupancy heat loads prompt the building to fluctuate across cooling, free-running, and heating mode, optimal setpoints and setbacks are not always the lowest or highest. In addition, the perturbations caused by rapid switching between setpoint and setback could diminish energy savings due to system destabilization. This paper aims to systematically compare the potential energy savings from fixed and optimal setpoints and setbacks across wide-ranging occupancy scenarios (4 occupancy rates and 14 patterns). Energy simulations were conducted using the Department of Energy reference models for small, medium, and large office buildings to enable an exhaustive search of optimal setpoint/setbacks in 17 climate zones. Explored setpoints were 19.5 °C to 25.5 °C with intervals of 1°C, setbacks were 17 °C/19 °C for heating and 26 °C/28 °C for cooling. The findings indicate that, on average, while lower occupancy heat loads results in 5.48% energy reduction, conventional fixed setpoint and setback strategy provides additional 11.80%, and optimal setpoints and setbacks provide an additional 34.36-38.08%, emphasizing the untapped potential energy saving. To facilitate practical applications, this paper presents an interactive graphical interface: Optimal Temperature Setpoint Tool.
Super-insulation materials have become more commonplace as highly insulated building envelopes are required to reduce the energy demand of buildings aligned with the net zero targets. While several super insulation materials are available, their environmental impacts and practical on-site limitations hindered their large-scale adoption. The following paper investigates the feasibility of developing hollow-core vacuum insulated panels supported by an internal structural array with different configurations. The designed panel was simulated and measured to evaluate its performance as a thermal insulator for building applications. Panel samples were manufactured from polished stainless-steel plates separated by a PTFE structural array. The change in temperature and heat flux through the sample was measured in a vacuum chamber at a pressure of 0.01 Pa. Thermal conductance was obtained from gradual measurements of heat flux and temperature across the sample after a rapid increase in temperature. Numerical methods that combine molecular and macroscopic solvers were used to model unsteady behaviour recorded in empirical tests. Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) was used to calculate the thermal conductivity of the rarefied gas, which was then used to solve the enthalpy equation for the multi-region model. Thermal resistance from empirical tests and numerical methods are in agreement within error bands, the greatest accuracy observed in high conductance models. Thermal resistance as low as 0.17 [Formula: see text] and as high as 4.75[Formula: see text] was measured. Low conductance sample configurations were sensitive to thermal contact conductance from the structural array contact interfaces, accounting for at least 40% of transferred energy. Gas conduction at a pressure of 0.01 Pa transfers up to 4% of energy in low emissivity sample configurations. Radiative energy transfer in high conductance configurations was responsible for up to 95% of transferred energy. The paper provides a comprehensive feasibility study, providing a solid foundation for further design optimization of the technology.
In this chapter, a novel data-driven method, which is called the deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG), is applied for optimally controlling the multi-zone residential heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The DDPG method is a type of model-free deep reinforcement learning (deep RL) method that can generate HVAC control strategies without referring to any complex modeling formulation. The applied deep RL–based method can learn the optimal control strategy through continuous interaction with the simulated building environment. Simulation results of DDPG on real-world use cases and comparisons with the benchmark cases demonstrate the effectiveness and the generalization ability of DDPG in saving energy cost while maintaining occupant comfort, which proves its feasibility in solving real-world high-dimensional control problems with hidden information or vast solution spaces.
The design of buildings has become a complex and multidisciplinary problem involving multiple conflicting objectives as architects and designers address competing technical, economic, environmental, and societal concerns. This has been driving research in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) toward rigorous multidisciplinary decision-making frameworks that generate and evaluate numerous design alternatives using multi-objective optimization in concert with simulation and analysis models of varying fidelity and computational expense. While such frameworks are well known and widely employed in the aerospace and systems engineering domains, efforts by design professionals and researchers in the AEC field are scattered at best. In this paper, we provide a detailed review of recent developments in optimization frameworks in the AEC field and subsequently highlight how such developments are largely compartmentalized into separate domains such as structural, energy, daylighting, and other performance factors. We further discuss the technical challenges involved in concurrent coupled multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) in the AEC field such as interoperability issues between Building Information Modeling (BIM) environments, analysis/simulation tools, and optimization frameworks. We conclude by outlining research needed for more unified modeling and simulation-based optimization frameworks to aid in complex and multidisciplinary building design processes. We also highlight the need for the identification and development of multi-fidelity simulation tools for use across multiple design phases. As such, this paper contributes a novel roadmap to leverage aerospace and systems engineering research in MDO into the field of AEC, along with a call for researchers in the MDO community to seek collaborations in AEC field.
Garantir um abastecimento energético seguro e sustentável é um dos maiores desafios que a sociedade enfrenta no século XXI, pois o crescimento populacional e o aumento dos padrões de vida pressionam as matrizes existentes. Diante disso, a sombra das árvores pode reduzir a demanda energética dos edifícios, principalmente para o uso do sistema de refrigeração artificial. Neste sentindo, este estudo tem como objetivo investigar a influência do sombreamento arbóreo na carga térmica de uma Habitação de Interesse Social, localizada no Centro-Oeste brasileiro. Os procedimentos metodológicos consistem em: i) contextualização climática da região de estudo; ii) caracterização do objeto de estudo e dos cenários de investigação; e iii) análise da carga térmica conforme metodologia de balanço térmico por meio de simulação computacional. Os resultados mostram que todas as fachadas apresentaram melhor desempenho na distância de 1,5m, com menores valores de carga térmica, e à medida que se afasta da habitação, esses valores aumentam gradativamente. O deslocamento do sombreamento arbóreo apresentou influências diferentes para cada fachada, sendo favorável no eixo positivo (3+) para as fachadas leste e oeste, e centralizado (0) para as fachadas norte e sul. Neste contexto, observa-se que o uso da estratégia da vegetação possui um caráter bioclimático passivo e contribui para a redução do consumo energético das edificações, principalmente as de baixa renda.
The paper investigates the impact of green human resource management (GHRM) on operatives’ green actions in Iranian businesses. GHRM is a human resource management approach that prioritizes environmental and social responsibility. The study uses a random sample of 385 managers and employees from Iran’s industrialized businesses in all regions. The research uses partial least square structure equations modeling to evaluate the suggested framework. The results show that GHRM practices affect corporate social responsibility, green attitudes inside the workplace, and green activities taken by workers. In addition, a green mentality and a commitment to corporate social responsibility encourage environmental activities in the workplace. The green psychosocial environment and corporate social responsibilities are intermediaries between green human resources development and individual green behaviour in Iranian businesses. The study suggests that incorporating sustainability metrics into the human resource management system is vital for achieving a sustainable future in industrial development. The research has important implications for businesses around the world, particularly those in the manufacturing sector, by encouraging them to adopt more environmentally responsive methods, including reducing resource usage.
Sports centers are significant energy consumers. This article outlines the engineering design for a comprehensive energy performance upgrade of the indoor sports hall in Arkalochori, Greece, and presents the projected results. The indoor sports hall constitutes a major sport facility on the mainland of Crete, hosting a broad cluster of sport municipal activities and the official basketball games of the local team in the 2nd national category. Having been constructed in the mid-1990s, the facility exhibits very low thermal performance, with considerably high U-factors for all constructive elements (from 4 to 5 W/m2∙K), still use of diesel oil for indoor space heating and domestic heat water production, and ineffective old lamps and luminaries covering the lighting needs of the facility. The energy performance upgrade of the indoor sports hall was studied, and the following passive and active measures were considered: Opaque-surfaces’ thermal insulation and openings’ replacement, stone wool panels, installation of heat pumps for indoor space conditioning, removal of diesel oil for any end use, production of domestic hot water from a novel solar-combi system, upgrade of lighting equipment, installation of solar tubes on the main sports hall roof for natural lighting as well as of a photovoltaic system for covering the remaining electricity consumption. With the proposed interventions, the studied building becomes a zero-energy facility. The payback period of the investment was calculated at 26 years on the basis of the avoided energy cost. This work was funded by the “NESOI” Horizon 2020 project and received the public award “Islands Gamechanger” competition of the NESOI project and the Clean Energy for EU Islands initiative.
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