Efficient Building Design Research Articles

Characterisation of Australian apartment electricity demand and its implications for low-carbon cities

Understanding of residential electricity demand has application in efficient building design, network planning and broader policy and regulation, as well as in planning the deployment of energy efficiency technologies and distributed energy resources with potential emissions reduction benefits and societal and household cost savings. Very few studies have explored the specific demand characteristics of apartments, which house a growing proportion of the global urban population.We present a study of apartment electricity loads, using a dataset containing a year of half-hourly electricity data for 6,000 Australian households, to examine the relationship between dwelling type, demographic characteristics and load profile. The focus on apartments, combined with the size of the data set, and the representative seasonal load profiles obtained through clustering full annual profiles, is unique in the literature. We find that median per-occupant household electricity use is 21% lower for apartments than for houses and that, on average, apartments have lower load factor and higher daily load variability, and show greater diversity in their daily peak times, resulting in a lower coincidence factor for aggregations of apartment loads. Using cluster analysis and classification, we also show the impact of dwelling type on the shape of household electricity load profiles.

EVALUATION OF THE DYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS FOR SEISMIC DESIGN OF MULTI-STORY BUILDINGS

The fundamental period of vibration is a critical structural dynamic characteristic in seismic design. Several expressions for the calculation of the fundamental period have been recommended by different building codes and previous studies. However, further studies are still needed to evaluate the design expressions used for the calculation of the fundamental periods and assess the need for further refinement. In this study, comprehensive fundamental period data from two sources is collected and compared with different formulas from building codes and previous studies. The first data set is obtained from 147 instrumented buildings with various lateral force resisting systems (LFRSs). The second set of period data are collected from the dynamic response simulations of selected structures. Different LFRSs are considered, including steel moment resisting frames (SMRFs), reinforced concrete moment resisting frames (RCMRFs), reinforced concrete shear walls (RCSWs), concentrically braced frames (CBFs), eccentrically braced frames (EBFs), masonry structures and pre-cast structures. The correlations between the derived period expressions with those recommended by the design provisions show that the code approach is conservative enough for SMRFs, CBFs, masonry buildings and pre-cast structures. For RCMRFs, EBFs and RCSWs, the design code is slightly unconservative for low-rise buildings. The outcomes of the study help to arrive at more efficient and cost-effective seismic design of buildings with different characteristics.

Integrating construction supply chains within a circular economy: An ANFIS-based waste analytics system (A-WAS)

The circular economy agenda makes it paramount for construction supply chains to reduce material waste. Although a collaborative platform called Building Information Modelling (BIM) offers a means of supply chains integration, it has not been efficiently upscaled for delivering waste efficient building designs. This study, therefore, develops a BIM-based computational tool for building waste analytics and reporting in the construction supply chains. A Construction Waste (CW) prediction model using Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) was developed and integrated into Autodesk Revit BIM platform. The model development process reveals that “Gross Floor Area” and “Construction type” are the two key predictors for CW. The results of the study show that the tool offers useful insights into CW minimisation opportunities. The study makes a huge contribution to CW management practices by developing a computational approach to CW measurement. The contribution of the study is fundamental because achieving accurate waste prediction is crucial to waste prevention through adequate design principles and BIM.

A hierarchical climatic zoning method for energy efficient building design applied in the region with diverse climate characteristics

The climate-responsive strategies for energy efficient building design and management require a detailed understanding of the local climatic conditions, while climate zones are fundamental to building regulations and the application of technologies. Smaller and more homogeneous climate zones could help policy-makers and building designers to improve building energy efficiency while improving the indoor thermal environment. A new climate zoning method, with two-tier classification designed for passive building design, is proposed, using climate data (degree-days, relative humidity, solar radiation and wind speed) with Hierarchical Agglomerative Clustering (HAC) following the Ward's method. The method is applied to the Hot Summer and Cold Winter (HSCW) zone of China as a showcase, where there are no fine climate zones for energy efficient building design with diverse climate characteristics. Seven sub-zones that consider both cooling and heating demands are generated in Tier 1. In the second tier, the HSCW zone is further sub-divided into three humidity groups, three solar radiation clusters, and four wind speed clusters. To assess the impact of climate zoning on building heating and cooling, EnergyPlus simulations are conducted with the output of heating and cooling load. The cooling loads decrease from sub-zone A to B to C (mean = 82.8, 65.3, 43.8 kWh m−2, respectively) with sub-zone mean heating A1 larger than A2 and A3, B1 larger than B2, and C1 larger than C2, which is in accordance with the assumption made in the first-tier division. The higher wind speeds can raise the possibility of natural ventilation, and further increase the free-running period (FRP) when heating and cooling are not needed. The proposed zones are mapped and provide a useful reference for the policy/building code makers for heating and cooling strategies in this region. The method to create the climate zones could be applied in any region with local climate data.

Calibration of a building energy model using operation conditions derived from monitoring

Building energy modelling and simulations play an important role in the design of energy efficient buildings but also in post-construction phases for commissioning, operation and optimization. With the use of data from monitoring systems related to the operation conditions of a building, calibrated simulations can be performed that accurately follow the real energy performance of a building. This paper present a procedure to achieve a calibrated building energy model simulation using monitoring data. The aim of the study is to verify/validate the results of the building energy model simulation against measured data. The study is based on an existing highly energy efficient building, which is continuously monitored in terms of energy consumptions and environmental parameters for several years now. The performance of the building energy model was assessed using statistical indices. The monthly total energy consumption comparison between simulated and measured shows that the building energy model managed to predict very closely the measured values. The accuracy of the building energy model in predicting air temperature was assessed as well.

Energy Efficient Building Design in Nigeria: An Assessment of the Effect of the Sun on Energy Consumption in Residential Buildings

Energy Efficient Building Design in Nigeria: An Assessment of the Effect of the Sun on Energy Consumption in Residential Buildings

Toward Zero Energy: Active and passive design strategies to achieve net zero Energy Building

Buildingsare found to be an essential part of the needed transition towards energy sustainability. In the past few years, there have been growing interests in net zero energy buildings (NZEB) adapted worldwide. The minimized energy demand and airtightness of a passive house and the low energy buildings have provided in the past a step forward to the energy efficiency goal and the net-zero energy building. Implementation of proven energy efficiency technologies offers the world the fastest, most economical, and most environmentally benign way to alleviate threats. This paper will discuss Net Zero Energy Building definition and design strategies targeting for energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. The literature shows that to improve the integrated performance of the building and to achieve the goal of energy efficient and NZEB, appropriate active and passive design strategies should utilize. Also, energy demand should reduce to a minimum, through energy efficient building designs, leaving only a fraction of the energyrequired to be covered by renewable energy generation.

The Significance of Building Design for the Climate

Abstract Building design is important for saving energy and reducing GHG emissions by applying passive solar heating and cooling design principles and using the right materials and appropriate design tools. This will make the home healthier and more comfortable. The design of energy efficient and sustainable buildings is critical for the future. A key aspect of any design is the realistic and accurate prediction of the performance of the building under a wide range of weather conditions. This paper examines the effect of different climate zones in Australia (which are comparable to the world's major climates) on the thermal performance of a complete building and recommended design techniques to suit each climate zone to enhance the overall thermal performance. To examine the effect of the location (different climates) on the overall thermal performance and how a good design in one location may not be suitable at another location, AccuRate will be used to assess the thermal performance for the exact module in different climates zones to allow a fair comparison to find the appropriate design for the climate where the building is located. Also, in this research, each climate zone design requirements and techniques were addressed for various climate variables (including: solar radiation, rainfall, wind speed and direction and humidity) to design sustainable building which save great amount of energy while sustaining occupants thermal comfort.

Towards Optimal Design of Energy Efficient Buildings

AbstractBuildings consume half of all energy use and are also responsible for a similar proportion of carbon dioxide emission. The heat transfer across the building envelope - the shell of a house that separates the inside and outside - should generally be minimized. In the paper validation and verification based on Building Energy Simulation Test (BESTEST) of Energy3D computer code is presented. Next, computations performed by means of Energy 3D and Energy Plus for BESTEST building are compared. In the last part of the paper results for computations for real building are presented. Program Energy 3D proved to be an excellent tool for qualitative and quantitative analysis of buildings with respect to energy consumption.

Quality Improvement of Specialists Training for Energy-Efficient Construction

The paper explores the issues of improving the quality of training in the field of energy-efficient construction. The analysis of the development of energy-efficient construction and the regulatory framework of the Russian Federation in this area was carried out. The analysis of the data on the job market in the construction industry, the results of employers’ survey, and the experience in the implementation of educational programs in Russian universities showed the need to improve the quality of training in the field of energy efficient construction of buildings. The findings from the employers’ questionnaires revealed their interest in further cooperation in the implementation of educational programs. The example of the Master’s program “Design, construction and operation of energy efficient buildings” shows the stages of creating an educational program from the perspective of a competence-based approach. The main approaches to the formulation of learning outcomes by combining the requirements of federal state educational standards, professional standards and the questionnaire findings are considered. The methodology for assessing the quality of the educational program in the field of energy efficient construction is proposed.

Integration of point cloud data and hyperspectral imaging as a data gathering methodology for refurbishment projects using building information modelling (BIM)

PurposeBuilding information modelling (BIM) is a digital representation of the physical and functional characteristics of a building. Its use offers a range of benefits in terms of achieving the efficient design, construction, operation and maintenance of buildings. Applying BIM at the outset of a new build project should be relatively easy. However, it is often problematic to apply BIM techniques to an existing building, for example, as part of a refurbishment project or as a tool supporting the facilities management strategy, because of inadequacies in the previous management of the dataset that characterises the facility in question. These inadequacies may include information on as built geometry and materials of construction. By the application of automated retrospective data gathering for use in BIM, such problems should be largely overcome and significant benefits in terms of efficiency gains and cost savings should be achieved.Design/methodology/approachLaser scanning can be used to collect geometrical and spatial information in the form of a 3D point cloud, and this technique is already used. However, as a point cloud representation does not contain any semantic information or geometrical context, such point cloud data must refer to external sources of data, such as building specification and construction materials, to be in used in BIM.FindingsHyperspectral imaging techniques can be applied to provide both spectral and spatial information of scenes as a set of high-resolution images. Integrating of a 3D point cloud into hyperspectral images would enable accurate identification and classification of surface materials and would also convert the 3D representation to BIM.Originality/valueThis integrated approach has been applied in other areas, for example, in crop management. The transfer of this approach to facilities management and construction would improve the efficiency and automation of the data transition from building pathology to BIM. In this study, the technological feasibility and advantages of the integration of laser scanning and hyperspectral imaging (the latter not having previously been used in the construction context in its own right) is discussed, and an example of the use of a new integration technique is presented, applied for the first time in the context of buildings.

Benchmarking of useful phase change materials for a building application

Nowadays, there is an increasing interest in more efficient building materials and new technologies to accomplish the objectives defined by energy policies. The combination of energy efficient building designs and integration of renewable energies makes the use of thermal energy storage (TES) necessary. Within this context, the improvement of building envelopes by the use of phase change materials (PCM) has been widely studied. The PCM selection should fulfil the requirements of the specific application. In this study, a benchmarking of PCM available in the market was performed to undertake a material selection for a specific building application. The incorporation of PCM into a radiant wall technology present several requirements with especial interest on long-term thermal stability. A complete laboratory-scale characterization has been carried out considering the following properties: temperature of phase change, specific heat capacity, thermal conductivity, and stability.

Performance of global luminous efficacy models and proposal of a new model for daylighting in Burgos, Spain

Abstract Daylighting is recognized as an important and useful strategy in the design of energy efficient buildings. Daylight is still the best source of light for good colour rendering and visual comfort. In this study, a new model of global luminous efficacy over a horizontal surface is proposed. A comparative study of eighteen classic models is presented, to obtain global horizontal illuminance, using both, the original formulation and new formulae with local adaptations, in order to determine the most suitable models for the conditions in Burgos (Spain). With this aim in mind, the selected models consisted of six models developed for all sky conditions, five models for clear sky conditions, three for partly cloudy sky and four for modelling overcast sky conditions. These eighteen models were also compared with the proposed model using experimental global illuminance measurements for different sky conditions. It was shown that the proposed model behaved in a better way than most of the classic models selected from the literature; both for all sky conditions and for particular sky conditions (clear, partly cloudy and overcast). The proposed model was therefore generally applicable, with no need to employ a different model for each particular sky condition.

Multi-objective optimization case study with active and passive design in building engineering

This research presents a synthetic case study for multi-objective optimization for an active and passive design procedure based on dynamic programming using genetic algorithms (GAs) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Both active and passive optimized variables are indispensable for efficient building design. This paper shows how to deal with these two different types of variables in the multi-objective optimization frame. Energy saving, thermal comfort, and indoor air quality are selected as objective functions. While demonstrating a synthetic multi-objective optimization with active and passive variables, this research analyzes the trade-off relation among objective functions in the indoor environment. In this research, representing fluctuating outdoor conditions as random variables, optimization of the building geometry as the passive design variable and an HVAC system as the active design variable was performed using the dynamic programming approach. This research consists of several tasks. First, multi-objective optimization is carried out by genetic algorithms and computational fluid dynamics, and then dynamic programming is applied to the control system with random variables.

BIM Based Design Optimization Framework for the Energy Efficient Buildings Design in Turkey

Buildings in Turkey consume a great amount of energy to supply comfort conditions. This is due to the ineffective design decisions by designers with no consideration of the environmental impact and energy efficiency. Thus, building design parameters should be studied and examined during the design stage considering the environment that is a crucial factor for the energy efficient building design, which may lead to better energy performance and fewer CO2 emission. BIM as a new way of working methodology enables energy efficient design solutions considering design parameters for the improved high building performance in Turkey. Therefore, this research aims to develop a strategic BIM framework encapsulating the optimized design process, technology implementation, building design rules considering the local values and energy performance assessment of the concept building design. Research adopts multi case studies methodology that helps to gain qualitative and quantitative insights and understand the current practices. Revit based BIM modelling is used with Design Builder for energy performance simulation in relation to the building design parameters. The outcome will be a design guide for the energy optimised building design in Turkey. This design guide will help designers to successful use of BIM for design optimization process, effective technology implementation, rules-based design development and energy assessment scheme reflecting local values for sustainable building design.

URBAN HEAT ISLAND MICRO-MAPPING VIA 3D CITY MODEL

Abstract. Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomenon has been a topic of intense study over the past several years. However, to visualise UHI model is still an issue. Common visualisation of UHI by using digital thematic maps shows that it is hard to perceive its impacts especially in a sophisticated micro-area such as in urbanized cities. Moreover, different building façade’s material gives different UHI value. Therefore, there is a need in computing and visualising this phenomenon in three-dimensional (3D) perspectives. Recently, the development of 3D city modelling shows the potential of solving these gaps. This can be seen from the characteristics of 3D city models that are suitable in representing micro-areas (complex cities) for UHI studies. Based on this issue, this research aims to produce a 3D UHI model by using 3D city models as a tool for efficient and sustainable building design. The main objective is to produce a new approach in visualising UHI in 3D perspectives by instigating 3D city models. Thus, the UHI effect could be predicted precisely by calculating the building façades value. This research explores the 3D shadow analysis, 3D solar radiation and 3D orientation analysis in UHI modelling via 3D city models. From the analyses, the results show that the 3D city models are capable in presenting the solar radiation value for each building façade. Furthermore, this approach can be used to simulate future UHI analysis-prediction and advantageous for pre-development planning.

Passive cooling & climate responsive façade design: Exploring the limits of passive cooling strategies to improve the performance of commercial buildings in warm climates

Cooling demands of commercial buildings present a relevant challenge for a sustainable future. They account for over half of the overall energy needs for the operation of an average office building in warm climates, and this situation is expected to become more pressing due to increasing temperatures in cities worldwide. To tackle this issue, it is widely agreed that the application of passive strategies should be the first step in the design of energy efficient buildings, only using active equipment if it is truly necessary. Nonetheless, there is still further need for information regarding the potential limits derived from their application.This paper explores the effectiveness of selected passive cooling strategies in commercial buildings from warm climates, defining performance ranges based on the assessment of multiple scenarios and climate contexts. This task was conducted through the statistical analysis of results from documented research experiences, to define overall ranges and boundary conditions; and through software simulation of selected parameters to isolate their impact under a controlled experimental setup. General findings showed that the mere application of passive strategies is not enough to guarantee relevant savings. Their effectiveness was conditioned to both the harshness of a given climate and different building parameters. Specific recommendations were also discussed for the selected passive strategies considered in the evaluation.

The Design of Net-Zero-Energy Affordable Housing in Philadelphia

Sustainable buildings are often considered expensive alternatives to conventional designs. However, a decline in costs associated with materials, technology, labor and whole building approaches make green homes realistic to construct even within low-income neighborhoods. This can address the critical shortage of affordable housing in cities, and the emerging recognition of their impact on healthy communities. This study proposes an affordable and energy-efficient design for a low-income rowhouse in Philadelphia as a city having the highest poverty rate in the U.S. The design can be replicated as an investment in the future where people live with net zero energy and zero emissions. Furthermore, residents have the opportunity to create a more vibrant and healthy neighborhood economy by investing their savings locally. The results showed that the proposed prototype has a payback of approximately just over 16 years. Although this seems long, the building is affordable since the ongoing operating expenses are significantly less than a typical house. This is achieved by the combination of an efficient building design, onsite power generation, water conservation and rainwater harvesting. The payback period may suggest that larger-scale projects than just a single urban residence (two residences and larger) are needed to improve investment paybacks. This is discussed. Considering the added benefits (energy and water) that will continue after the payback period, the design can be a pioneer for low-income neighborhoods.

Developing a Net Zero Energy Building: A Case Study of an Institutional Library

The growing energy demand and means to fulfill it has contributed a lot to ever-increasing carbon emission in the atmosphere.The energy sector in India is facing constant challenges to produce clean energy,and with growing energy demand, this sector has already faced a lot of stress to deal with current situation. To mitigate this challenge all the sectors which are using energy needs to optimize their energy use and to find renewables means to generate energy to fulfill their needs. The building industry is accountable for 40 percent of the total energy consumption and thus needs to improve their energy use through energy efficiency measures and renewable energy use. Energy efficiency in educational buildings is rarely addressed when talked about buildings in general, although, educational buildings can act as a living laboratory for energy efficient building design and can act as role model for surrounding community for transferring knowledge. The library building is one of the most important buildings in the educational campuses,and the most happening place presents a challenge for achieving energy efficiency due to its variable occupancy rates during operational hours. Case study approach is used for this paper for finding out the renewable energy (solar photovoltaic) generational potential of the library building located on the educational campus. For this study, PVsyst software was used for simulating the library building for finding the possibility of implementing solar photovoltaic panels and thus making building self-sufficient on the guidelines of net-zero energy building. Some variable that affects the sizing of the photovoltaic panel for the buildings were taken up includes the area of the roof, shading factors, inverter size, etc. It was found that the with proper integration of solar photovoltaic system and reducing the energy use can be useful in making library building low carbon buildings and with improvement in technology in the field of solar PV systems it may be possible to make library buildings net-zero energy buildings in the near future.

Design and development of a low-cost angular sky luminance measurement system

Energy efficient building design requires simulated assessment of overall performance through reliable models, taking into account the daylight variations along with other significant parameters such as ventilation, plug loads and occupant behaviour. A robust indoor daylight model applicable to locations across the globe needs to incorporate local variations of sky luminance on a spatial and temporal basis, and needs an affordable system for dynamic angular daylight measurement to be used as part of a wider distributed network. In the present work, a low-cost prototype based on Light Dependent Resistors for measurement of angular daylight luminance distribution is developed and analyzed. This device was used to capture the angular analog data for 221 sky segments (20 azimuthal x 11 altitudinal segments and Zenith). The analog data was further converted to luminance data, and the visualized data was compared with sky-dome photographs and also with simulated polar daylight maps for a few Commission International de l’Eclairage (CIE) skies. The repeatability of the experiment was assessed by comparing the luminance data for selected sky segments over multiple time-segments for consecutive days. Measured data was found to be an acceptable fit with the CIE-models over various time segments, validating the prototype.