Abstract
Large glass areas, even high-performance glazing with Low-E coating, could lead to discomfort if exposed to solar radiation due to radiant asymmetry. In addition, air-to-air cooling systems affect the thermal environment indoors. Water-Flow Glazing (WFG) is a disruptive technology that enables architects and engineers to design transparent and translucent facades with new features, such as energy management. Water modifies the thermal behavior of glass envelopes, the spectral distribution of solar radiation, the non-uniform nature of radiation absorption, and the diffusion of heat by conduction across the glass pane. The main goal of this article was to assess energy consumption and comfort conditions in office spaces with a large glass area by using WFG as a radiant heating and cooling system. This article evaluates the design and operation of an energy management system coupled with WFG throughout a year in an actual office space. Temperature, relative humidity, and solar radiation sensors were connected to a control unit that actuated the different devices to keep comfortable conditions with minimum energy consumption. The results in summer conditions revealed that if the mean radiant temperature ranged from 19.3 to 23 °C, it helped reduce the operative temperature to comfortable levels when the indoor air temperature was between 25 and 27.5 °C. The Predicted Mean Vote in summer conditions was between 0 and −0.5 in working hours, within the recommended values of ASHRAE-55 standard.
Highlights
Obsolete equipment, design flaws, and inappropriate use can account for up to 20% of the energy that buildings use over the operation period [1]
Over the last two decades, all members of the European Union (EU) have been committed to increasing the production of renewable energy, decreasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and reducing the final energy consumption by 20% from 1990 levels by 2020
The EU members have committed to reducing GHG emissions by 80–95% by 2050, and the fulfillment of the Paris Conference of the Parties 21 agreement will require a further reduction of GHG emissions [5]
Summary
Design flaws, and inappropriate use can account for up to 20% of the energy that buildings use over the operation period [1]. Over the last two decades, all members of the European Union (EU) have been committed to increasing the production of renewable energy, decreasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and reducing the final energy consumption by 20% from 1990 levels by 2020. The EU members have committed to reducing GHG emissions by 80–95% by 2050, and the fulfillment of the Paris Conference of the Parties 21 agreement will require a further reduction of GHG emissions [5]. In this regard, some studies show that electricity demand for cooling is increasing, especially in colder European countries [6]. If the electricity demand exceeds the projected renewable capacity, the goal of reducing GHG emissions will not be met
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