Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.5
2.7
Journals
Applied Sciences
Special Issues
Zero-Energy Buildings
share announcement

Zero-Energy Buildings

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Science and Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2019) | Viewed by 45544
Related Special Issue: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci/special_issues/future_zeb

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Enrico Fabrizio

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Dipartimento Energia (DENERG), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
Interests: sustainable building; low carbon architecture; energy efficiency in buildings
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The zero-energy building (ZEB) target has been the driver for a large amount of research activities over the last six years in the field of building energy performance, especially at the European level. This is certainly due to the studies that were carried out by EU Member States to implement the NZEB requirements (article 9 of EPBD), but, at the same time, legislative requirements, far from being merely an obligation, have led towards a new generation of research studies on the global energy performance of a building, encompassing various technologies and approaches (both numerical and experimental).

ZEB design typically requires a holistic approach; its target can be reached with the best combination of envelope, systems, energy sources, under technical and financial constraints.

The aim of the present Special Issue is to bring together up-to-date research on all aspects related to the design of a zero-energy building, such as:

  • Construction materials and envelope technologies for the optimization of the envelope of ZEBs;
  • New and integrated primary and secondary systems for ZEBs;
  • New building integrated renewable energy technologies;
  • Lighting design studies in ZEBs;
  • Automation, control and smart systems into ZEBs;
  • The role of user behavior and ZEBs in operation;
  • Measurements, monitoring and verification of ZEBs;
  • Integrated design processes and integrated performance of ZEBs;
  • Energy retrofit of existing buildings towards the ZEB target
  • National and regional legal matters, barriers to the implementation of the ZEB target.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Enrico Fabrizio
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • construction materials
  • building envelope
  • HVAC
  • energy systems
  • renewable energy technologies
  • monitoring
  • user behavior
  • building retrofit
  • lighting.

Published Papers (12 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Editorial

Jump to: Research

3 pages, 164 KiB  
Editorial
Zero Energy Buildings: A Reached Target or a Starting Point?
by Enrico Fabrizio
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(2), 512; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10020512 - 10 Jan 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1545
Abstract
The debate about zero energy buildings (ZEBs) has been one of the main new drivers of innovation in the construction industry around the world in the past decade [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zero-Energy Buildings)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

19 pages, 3645 KiB  
Article
Coupling Effect of Space-Arrangement and Wall Thermal Resistance on Indoor Thermal Environment of Passive Solar Single-Family Building in Tibet
by Xiaoling Cui, Yangkai Zhang, Guochen Sang, Wenkang Wang, Yiyun Zhu and Lei Zhang
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(17), 3594; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9173594 - 02 Sep 2019
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2100
Abstract
In areas where solar energy is abundant, such as the Tibetan plateau, passive solar buildings are attracting more and more attention and becoming a popular form of rural building. However, it is often difficult to achieve the satisfactory indoor thermal environment in a [...] Read more.
In areas where solar energy is abundant, such as the Tibetan plateau, passive solar buildings are attracting more and more attention and becoming a popular form of rural building. However, it is often difficult to achieve the satisfactory indoor thermal environment in a local rural passive solar single-family house. In order to improve the indoor thermal environment of passive solar buildings through building design, a systematic study of rural single-family buildings in Tibet was conducted. The basic parameters were investigated on the outdoor thermal environment, space-arrangement, envelope structure, and the indoor thermal environment. The building model considering space-arrangement modes was developed based on the survey data in multi-space passive solar buildings. The general physical and mathematical analysis models of multi-space passive solar buildings were established based on the heat transfer theory. Furthermore, the effects of space-arrangement and exterior wall thermal resistance on indoor air temperature were analyzed by numerical simulation. Results show that the indoor air temperature of the passive solar building is influenced by space-arrangement and wall thermal resistance together. When the space-arrangement of the building model was changed from “north-south through type” (mode a) to “through and separation combination” (mode b) and “north-south separation” (mode c), the indoor air temperature of the living room increased from 8.8 °C to 10.6 °C and 11.6 °C, with increases of 20.5% and 31.8%, respectively. In addition, equally increasing the thermal resistance of exterior walls in different orientations has different effects on the indoor air temperature. In the space-arrangement mode c, comparing with the temperature increment of the living room and bedroom caused by increasing thermal resistance of the south wall and north wall, the temperature increment of the living room caused by increasing thermal resistance of the east/west wall increased by 151.7% and 32.7%, and that of the bedroom increased by 609.1% and 239.1% respectively. This study can provide a reference for the optimal design of passive solar buildings in solar energy abundant areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zero-Energy Buildings)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 462 KiB  
Article
Zero Energy in the Built Environment: A Holistic Understanding
by Usha Iyer-Raniga
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(16), 3375; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9163375 - 16 Aug 2019
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2847
Abstract
International pressures through global agreements such as the recent Paris agreement in 2015 have put stress on governments and industries to find lasting solutions for the built environment. The built environment was recognized as an important factor in reducing global emissions for the [...] Read more.
International pressures through global agreements such as the recent Paris agreement in 2015 have put stress on governments and industries to find lasting solutions for the built environment. The built environment was recognized as an important factor in reducing global emissions for the first time at the Conference of Parties (COP) 21 meeting in Paris through a dedicated ‘Buildings Day.’ The Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC) was also launched at COP 21 as a network to globally support zero emission, efficient and resilient buildings and construction sector. The Paris Agreement brought all nations to collectively combat climate change with a view to limit temperature increases to no more than 2 degrees Celsius (°C). Nations agreed to report their efforts through the monitoring program. In most countries, residential and commercial buildings spend a large proportion of their energy in lighting, heating, ventilation, air conditioning and in various appliances requiring energy for operation. This paper takes a broad understanding of zero energy. Starting with buildings, the definitions also consider understanding zero energy and from a carbon perspective, considering going from beyond buildings to include precincts and cities. The paper brings an understanding of zero energy, its importance, and its urgency with respect to global commitments to reduce the impact of the building and construction sector and the role of governments and industries in supporting the lowering of emissions in the built environment now and in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zero-Energy Buildings)
21 pages, 3690 KiB  
Article
Design of the Refurbishment of Historic Buildings with a Cost-Optimal Methodology: A Case Study
by José Sánchez Ramos, Servando Álvarez Domínguez, MCarmen Pavón Moreno, MCarmen Guerrero Delgado, Laura Romero Rodríguez and José Antonio Tenorio Ríos
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(15), 3104; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9153104 - 31 Jul 2019
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3032
Abstract
The transformation of existing buildings into Near Zero Energy Buildings or even positive energy buildings remains a major challenge. In particular, historic buildings are an important cultural heritage that, in most cases, may be rehabilitated and reused for new purposes. However, achieving higher [...] Read more.
The transformation of existing buildings into Near Zero Energy Buildings or even positive energy buildings remains a major challenge. In particular, historic buildings are an important cultural heritage that, in most cases, may be rehabilitated and reused for new purposes. However, achieving higher efficiencies in those buildings presents many difficulties, since there is a need to preserve aesthetic values and minimize impact on the buildings’ initial construction. In this work, a roadmap that allows rehabilitating a building from the eighteenth century is developed, turning it into a landmark building, to be used as a museum in the near future. The procedure is based on 3D models using REVIT software and detailed energy simulations supported by a cost-optimal methodology. The results reveal how conventional methodologies shown in the literature may improve the energy performance of the buildings during the heating regime, but performance may deteriorate during the cooling season. For that reason, the present study includes the design of a night ventilation system which allows not only solving this problem but also to reducing the cooling demands by more than 43% with little additional costs. In conclusion, historic buildings (which traditionally have a high thermal mass) have increased thermal storage potential by using the structures of the buildings themselves as well as passive cooling techniques. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zero-Energy Buildings)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 9360 KiB  
Article
Energy Demand and Supply Simultaneous Optimization to Design a Nearly Zero-Energy House
by Maria Ferrara, Federico Prunotto, Andrea Rolfo and Enrico Fabrizio
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(11), 2261; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9112261 - 31 May 2019
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3390
Abstract
The effective design of nearly zero-energy buildings depends on a large set of interdependent variables, which affect both energy demand and supply. Considering them simultaneously is fundamental when searching for optimal design of nearly zero-energy buildings, as encouraged by the EU in the [...] Read more.
The effective design of nearly zero-energy buildings depends on a large set of interdependent variables, which affect both energy demand and supply. Considering them simultaneously is fundamental when searching for optimal design of nearly zero-energy buildings, as encouraged by the EU in the second recast of the Energy Performance of Building Directive (EPBD). This paper presents the application of the new energy demand and supply simultaneous optimization (EDeSSOpt) methodology to optimize the design of a single-family house in the Italian context. Both primary energy optimization and financial optimization are carried out in the context of European regulations. Robustness of the resulting optimal solution is studied through analysis of optimum neighborhoods. The resulting cost-optimized solution relies on a moderately insulated envelope, a highly efficient system, and 34% of coverage from renewables. The energy-optimized solution requires a higher level of insulation and a higher coverage from renewables, demonstrating that there is still a gap between energy and cost optimums. Beyond the results, integrated optimization by means of EDeSSOpt is demonstrated to better minimize cost functions while improving the robustness of results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zero-Energy Buildings)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 5244 KiB  
Article
A Novel Approach for the Definition of an Integrated Visual Quality Index for Residential Buildings
by Stefano Zanon, Nicola Callegaro and Rossano Albatici
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(8), 1579; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9081579 - 16 Apr 2019
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4040
Abstract
Visual quality is an important component of indoor environment quality and greatly affects inhabitants’ perception of the living space. Nevertheless, the lighting design of residential buildings is usually underestimated by both designers and standards. This paper presents an integrated index for evaluating the [...] Read more.
Visual quality is an important component of indoor environment quality and greatly affects inhabitants’ perception of the living space. Nevertheless, the lighting design of residential buildings is usually underestimated by both designers and standards. This paper presents an integrated index for evaluating the visual quality of an indoor environment in residential buildings. The main parameters considered are daylight access, probability of glare from daylight and electric illumination, maintained illuminance, and color temperature. These aspects are evaluated throughout a whole year using a fixed set of metrics and are combined using relative weights. It was decided to also consider qualitative parameters in order to give more importance to some psychological aspects of visual comfort. Finally, the building visual quality index is obtained by a weighted average of the results of each room with the addition of the qualitative parameters. The applicability of the index was tested through the simulation of a dwelling that will be built and monitored in the context of the Comfort for Sustainable Buildings in the Alps (CASA) research project. The building visual quality index proved to be useful during the design process, allowing for improvements in both electric illumination and daylight access through a comparison of different solutions. This study could represent a step towards the holistic evaluation of indoor environment quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zero-Energy Buildings)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 4228 KiB  
Article
An Experimental Study on the Drying-Out Ability of Highly Insulated Wall Structures with Built-In Moisture and Rain Leakage
by Klaus Viljanen and Xiaoshu Lu
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(6), 1222; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9061222 - 22 Mar 2019
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3457
Abstract
The recent research on highly insulated structures presents controversial conclusions on risks in moisture safety. This paper addresses these controversial issues through investigating the hygrothermal performance of energy efficient envelope structures under high moisture loads. The experiments consist of built-in moisture and rain [...] Read more.
The recent research on highly insulated structures presents controversial conclusions on risks in moisture safety. This paper addresses these controversial issues through investigating the hygrothermal performance of energy efficient envelope structures under high moisture loads. The experiments consist of built-in moisture and rain leakage tests in mineral wool insulated structures. A heat and moisture transfer simulation model is developed to examine the drying-out ability in both warm and cold seasons. The results show that the energy efficient structures have an excellent drying out ability against built-in and leakage moisture. The difference in the drying ability is limited compared to conventional structures. A critical leakage moisture amount reaching the insulation cavity for a wood frame wall is determined to be between 6.9–20.7 g in a single rain event occurring every other day. Further research is required to target highly insulated structures, particularly addressing water vapor diffusion and convection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zero-Energy Buildings)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 4752 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Energy Saving Potential by Replacing Conventional Materials by Cross Laminated Timber (CLT)—A Case Study of Office Buildings in China
by Yu Dong, Xue Cui, Xunzhi Yin, Yang Chen and Haibo Guo
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(5), 858; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9050858 - 27 Feb 2019
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 8240
Abstract
This research evaluates the operational heating and cooling energy consumption of cross-laminated timber (CLT) office buildings in China. The evaluations involve a comparison of the energy consumption of a reference RC structure and CLT system office buildings. Computational simulation results are based on [...] Read more.
This research evaluates the operational heating and cooling energy consumption of cross-laminated timber (CLT) office buildings in China. The evaluations involve a comparison of the energy consumption of a reference RC structure and CLT system office buildings. Computational simulation results are based on IES-VE 2019 and show that the estimated heating energy saving ratio of CLT buildings in Harbin, Beijing, Shanghai, and Kunming to the reference structure are 11.97%, 22.11%, 30.94%, and 23.30% respectively. However, the CLT buildings consume more energy for cooling in the summer. The results of the research show significantly higher heating energy reductions for CLT buildings in the Cold Region and Severe Cold Regions of China. Thus, the application of the CLT system is better suited to northern China than southern China. The results of the research can be used in further assessment of the use of CLT systems in different climatic regions in China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zero-Energy Buildings)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 3326 KiB  
Article
Assessment of the Potential of High-Performance Buildings to Achieve Zero Energy: A Case Study
by Dan Wang, Xiufeng Pang, Wei Wang, Zewei Qi, Jin Li and Duo Luo
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(4), 775; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9040775 - 22 Feb 2019
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2923
Abstract
Buildings that are designed with aggressive energy performance targets are defined broadly in this study as high-performance buildings. As the technology advances, some of these buildings have the potential to become zero-energy ready through the adoption of cost-effective measures, such as retro-commissioning and [...] Read more.
Buildings that are designed with aggressive energy performance targets are defined broadly in this study as high-performance buildings. As the technology advances, some of these buildings have the potential to become zero-energy ready through the adoption of cost-effective measures, such as retro-commissioning and occupant behavior techniques. This study demonstrated the viability of an office building to achieve the zero-energy goal and intended to engage the owners of similar facilities. The case building was designed as a very low-energy building with an energy use intensity (EUI) goal of 42 kWh/(m2 a), and the actual EUI was 23.9 kWh/(m2 a). The calibrated simulation approach was employed in the study, and the results indicated that the case building can achieve the zero-energy goal by optimizing the controls of the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) system, changing the occupant behavior and improving the performance of the photovoltaic system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zero-Energy Buildings)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 1100 KiB  
Article
Applying Renewable Energy Technologies in an Integrated Optimization Method for Residential Building’s Design
by Pablo Aparicio-Ruiz, José Guadix-Martín, Elena Barbadilla-Martín and Jesús Muñuzuri-Sanz
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(3), 453; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9030453 - 29 Jan 2019
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3242
Abstract
Designing a Zero Energy Building (ZEB) requires an optimal choice of the materials of a building envelope. Different material properties and window areas could be selected to generate a set of possibilities of the design of a building, being the demand defined by [...] Read more.
Designing a Zero Energy Building (ZEB) requires an optimal choice of the materials of a building envelope. Different material properties and window areas could be selected to generate a set of possibilities of the design of a building, being the demand defined by its thermal characteristics. The energy demand of a building could be produced with renewable systems such as photovoltaic. Moreover, the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems could be selected considering the system cost. The present methodology focuses on finding a balance between investment and low energy consumption for a building, based on an integrated optimization method. Such methodology applies a Tabu search algorithm and a simplified model to select the passive design. Afterwards, active elements of the design, as photovoltaic systems, are selected. Therefore, the methodology faces the problem of estimating the annual energy demand and the life cycle cost. The goal is the design of a building with a large amount of energy generated by renewable energy, to have a ZEB, and in the worst case, a nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB). This methodology reduces investment, reduces the energy demand and selects the best construction materials, renewable energy, and air conditioning system. The present paper analyzes a set of case studies considering different climatic zones in Spain. The results conclude that the methodology could help builders in the design stage, to find a new design that allows a ZEB with the optimal life cycle cost. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zero-Energy Buildings)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 3232 KiB  
Article
Effect of Cavity Vacuum Pressure Diminution on Thermal Performance of Triple Vacuum Glazing
by Saim Memon, Farukh Farukh and Karthikeyan Kandan
Appl. Sci. 2018, 8(9), 1705; https://doi.org/10.3390/app8091705 - 19 Sep 2018
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5103
Abstract
Long-term durability of the vacuum edge seal plays a significant part in retrofitting triple vacuum glazing (TVG) to existing buildings in achieving progress towards a zero-energy building (ZEB) target. Vacuum pressure decrement with respect to time between panes affects the thermal efficiency of [...] Read more.
Long-term durability of the vacuum edge seal plays a significant part in retrofitting triple vacuum glazing (TVG) to existing buildings in achieving progress towards a zero-energy building (ZEB) target. Vacuum pressure decrement with respect to time between panes affects the thermal efficiency of TVG. This study reports a 3D finite element model, with validated mathematical methods and comparison, for the assessment of the influence of vacuum pressure diminution on the thermal transmittance (U value) of TVG. The centre-of-pane and total U values of TVG are calculated to be 0.28 Wm−2 K−1 and 0.94 Wm−2 K−1 at the cavity vacuum pressure of 0.001 Pa. The results suggest that a rise in cavity pressure from 0.001 Pa to 100 kPa increases the centre-of-pane and total U values from 0.28 Wm−2 K−1 and 0.94 Wm−2 K−1 to 2.4 Wm−2 K−1 and 2.58 Wm−2 K−1, respectively. The temperature descent on the surfaces of TVG between hot and cold sides increases by decreasing the cavity vacuum pressure from 50 kPa to 0.001 Pa. Nonevaporable getters will maintain the cavity vacuum pressure of 0.001 Pa for over 20 years of life span in the cavity of 10-mm wide edge-sealed triple vacuum glazing, and enable the long-term durability of TVG. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zero-Energy Buildings)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 3059 KiB  
Article
NZEB Renovation Definition in a Heating Dominated Climate: Case Study of Poland
by Szymon Firląg and Michał Piasecki
Appl. Sci. 2018, 8(9), 1605; https://doi.org/10.3390/app8091605 - 10 Sep 2018
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 4453
Abstract
The main objective of this article is to propose possible requirements for NZEB (nearly zero-energy buildings) renovation definition in heating dominated climate. A survey was carried out on potential approaches and indicators that could be used for the NZEB definition of existing single-family [...] Read more.
The main objective of this article is to propose possible requirements for NZEB (nearly zero-energy buildings) renovation definition in heating dominated climate. A survey was carried out on potential approaches and indicators that could be used for the NZEB definition of existing single-family houses in Poland. The process of determining requirements for the NZEB renovation definition was divided into two stages. The cost-optimal U-values of the building’s envelope were initially calculated and, based on them, the energy demand for heating (QH) and the reduction of non-renewable primary energy demand (QP) were estimated. The calculations were made for different energy prices, locations, and two building models. Based on them the requirements for cost-optimal renovation (QH ≤ 60 kWh/(m² year), QP reduction ≥ 75%) and NZEB renovation (QH ≤ 40 kWh/(m² year), QP reduction ≥ 80%) were proposed. In contrast to definitions using only a maximum level of QP, two indicators were used. Such a solution is appropriate for existing buildings because it prevents the situation in which only renewable energy sources (RES) (with a low primary energy factor) will be applied in order to decrease the primary, non-renewable energy demand. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zero-Energy Buildings)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-12
Back to TopTop