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Energy Efficiency and Thermal Comfort in Buildings

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Civil Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 October 2024) | Viewed by 1590

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Industrial, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain
Interests: architectural engineering; heat transfer; building energy efficiency

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, in the face of the climate crisis and the necessary reduction in energy consumption, different international organizations, such as the European Commission, have underlined the important role that buildings play in this indicator. Buildings are a very important opportunity to reduce the energy consumed by our society, while other sectors, such as industry or transport, present much greater difficulties. It is important to point out that we currently possess the technology to achieve this reduction in consumption without a reduction in thermal comfort, and achieving this binomial (a reduction in energy consumption and an increase in thermal comfort simultaneously) is the most important issue. Nowadays, this is possible, and it is the focus of this Special Issue, in which any type of research is welcome that rigorously contributes to these objectives.

Energy efficiency has been shown to be a fundamental tool, not only in the construction materials involved (insulation, phase change material, reduction in density, or increase in stored energy as intended), but also in the components used for climatization. It is necessary to highlight the use of heat pumps for which energy is taken from the environment that is considered most appropriate, renewable, and economical.

Any additional considerations will be welcomed since the width of the issue allows any additional contribution!

Prof. Dr. Rafael Royo-Pastor
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • advanced building materials
  • infrared thermography
  • energy efficiency
  • heat pumps
  • zero-energy buildings
  • phase change materials
  • U-value

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 5211 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Building Tool by Energy Baseline: Case Study
by Rosaura Castrillón-Mendoza, Javier M. Rey-Hernández, Larry Castrillón-Mendoza and Francisco J. Rey-Martínez
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(20), 9403; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14209403 - 15 Oct 2024
Viewed by 498
Abstract
This study explores innovative methodologies for estimating the energy baseline (EnBL) of a university classroom building, emphasizing the critical roles of data quality and model selection in achieving accurate energy efficiency assessments. We compare time series models that are suitable for buildings with [...] Read more.
This study explores innovative methodologies for estimating the energy baseline (EnBL) of a university classroom building, emphasizing the critical roles of data quality and model selection in achieving accurate energy efficiency assessments. We compare time series models that are suitable for buildings with limited consumption data with univariate and multivariate regression models that incorporate additional variables, such as weather and occupancy. Furthermore, we investigate the advantages of dynamic simulation using the EnergyPlus engine (V5, USDOE United States) and Design Builder software v7, enabling scenario analysis for various operational conditions. Through a comprehensive case study at the UAO University Campus, we validate our models using daily monitoring data and statistical analysis in RStudio. Our findings reveal that model choice significantly influences energy consumption forecasts, leading to potential overestimations or underestimations of savings. By rigorously assessing statistical validation and error analysis results, we highlight the implications for decarbonization strategies in building design and operation. This research provides a valuable framework for selecting appropriate methodologies for energy baseline estimation, enhancing transparency and reliability in energy performance assessments. These contributions are particularly relevant for optimizing energy use and aligning with regulatory requirements in the pursuit of sustainable building practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency and Thermal Comfort in Buildings)
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35 pages, 8530 KiB  
Article
Development and Application of a Novel Non-Iterative Balancing Method for Hydronic Systems
by Federico Pedranzini, Luigi P. M. Colombo and Francesco Romano
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(14), 6232; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14146232 - 17 Jul 2024
Viewed by 734
Abstract
The improvement of efficiency in new and existing buildings is one of the key aspects in achieving the climate change targets promoted by international regulatory and technical bodies, and among the measures that deserve renewed attention is the balancing of hydronic systems. However, [...] Read more.
The improvement of efficiency in new and existing buildings is one of the key aspects in achieving the climate change targets promoted by international regulatory and technical bodies, and among the measures that deserve renewed attention is the balancing of hydronic systems. However, the balancing procedures currently applied have not been updated for decades and are still largely unimplemented, as they are mainly based on cumbersome and iterative procedures. This paper deals with the proposal and advanced adaptation of a non-iterative balancing method previously developed for air systems, known as the progressive flow method (PFM). The application to water systems of the PFM’s concepts includes some aspects of an existing empirical method called the compensated method (CM) and overcomes its main limitations; moreover, the original PFM has been radically rethought in its implementation aspects, taking advantage of the tightness of water distribution systems, minimising instrumentation and the number of measurement operations, to definitively overcome the iterative nature of the currently applied methods. Experimental validation was carried out. Compared with a standard method, the enhanced PFM reduced the number of measurements by 48% and the number of balancing operations by 41%, achieving final flow rates within tolerances and the same configuration of balancing devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency and Thermal Comfort in Buildings)
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