Reduce Energy Demand Research Articles

Navigating the transition: Modelling the path for net-zero European building sector

Transition towards a net-zero building sector offers substantial potential to mitigate climate change impacts and thus plays a pivotal role in meeting the goals set forth in the Paris Agreement. Stakeholders often use mathematical models to understand the true potential for mitigating emissions by reducing the energy demand of the building sector. However, the existing models rarely provide insights into net-zero pathways for both the residential and tertiary buildings as this is a complex sector to calculate the future pathways towards net-zero. Hence, uncertainties in the associated policy decisions persist. Therefore, this study uses the High-Efficiency Building (HEB) energy model to calculate the energy demand reduction potential as well as to analyze the net-zero feasibility of the building sector for each of the European Union Member States. This research uses four scenarios, which are designed to represent scenario-specific levels of commitment the European Union Member States regarding the application of different energy efficiency measures, to provide insights into the consequences of today's policy decisions by 2060. The findings of this study show that energy demand of the building sector can be reduced substantially and can even become nearly net-zero by 2060. Based on the demand reduction potential of the building sector, it can be concluded that the building renovation rate and construction of new advanced buildings not only provides unprecedented potential for reducing energy demand but also paves the way for reaching climate neutrality goals.

The impact of energy prices in decarbonizing buildings’ energy use in the EU27

The recent surge in end-use energy prices in the EU has intensified the debate on how price signals influence the decarbonization of the building sector, a key contributor to global energy consumption and emissions. This study investigates the role of energy price signals in driving the decarbonization of the EU-27 building sector using the Invert/EE-Lab model to simulate various scenarios up to 2050. The analysis examines the elasticity of energy demand, particularly how different price scenarios impact investment decisions in energy-related technologies. The findings reveal that a 10 % increase in energy prices can lead to a reduction in energy demand by up to 3 %, depending on the scenario. Furthermore, price elasticity varies across different policy and price settings, with stricter regulations resulting in lower elasticity. The results underscore that while stringent regulatory measures can achieve significant energy savings and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, they also limit the responsiveness to price signals, with heat pump shares reaching 47–86 % in high-efficiency scenarios. Conversely, more moderate policy measures increase price elasticity, leading to 15–55 % heat pump shares. This study highlights the importance of better understanding price elasticity in energy modeling to project better the outcomes of policy interventions aimed at achieving a low-carbon energy system.

Study of psychophysiological indicators of sensorimotor Integration in PTSD. Justification of the choice of targets for biofeedback

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an actual medico-social problem. The pathogenesis of PTSD closely relates to impairment of sensorimotor integration (SMI). The effectiveness of psychosomatic disorder therapy for PTSD rehabilitation can be improved by restoring normal sensorimotor integration. The review examines various autonomic, electro-physiological and postural markers of high sensory motor integration in highly skilled athletes and musicians, as well as impairment of these indices in persons with PTSD. We have established that the most accessible and informative indicators of SMI are: an increase in EEG power in the individually adjusted high-frequency alpha-band, a reduction in energy demands for posture control and a decrease in the electromyographic activity of redundant muscles, not involved in motor-cognitive dual task. In the future, it is planned to use these indicators to diagnose stress disorders and to develop sensorimotor integration recovery training in patients with PTSD.

On the Emergence of Shipping Container Homes: Adaptation to Future Climate Projections

Upcycling shipping containers for housing is increasingly recognised as a sustainable solution to housing challenges, particularly in developing economies like Nigeria. This study evaluates the thermal comfort and energy efficiency of shipping container homes under climate conditions projected for 2080. Using meteorological data for Abuja and Lagos under the Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5, a stand-alone shipping container home was simulated. The study incorporated fabric optimisation techniques, using polyurethane foam and polyisocyanurate board insulation, high-performance window glazing, and shading strategies. The findings reveal that without intervention, container homes would experience significant thermal discomfort, with annual discomfort hours exceeding 28°C in both cities. However, with insulation and shading, annual discomfort hours were reduced by up to 87%, and energy consumption decreased by 76%. These results highlight the critical role of insulation and shading in enhancing thermal comfort and reducing energy demand, making container homes a viable solution for sustainable housing in hot climates. The study underscores the need for policy support to promote the integration of advanced insulation and adaptive design strategies to ensure the resilience and sustainability of container homes in future climates.

Nano-twinned silicon in Al-Si alloys for high wear-resistance

Wear-failure is the most common damage for power transmission components in the field of engineering materials, constituting approximately one-fourth in service loss. The development of high wear-resistant Al alloys plays a crucial role in reducing energy demand and weight, and then attributes to the achievement of dual-carbon target. Here we report a novel strategy to develop outstanding wear-resistant (the coefficient of friction of 0.31) Al-10 wt%Si alloys at room temperature, based on the formation of multiple parallel {111} twins and hierarchical {111}-{111} double twins by a route of combining ultrahigh pressure solid solution and electropulsing assisted aging (HPEP), which overwhelms all values of Al alloys, even Ti alloys and high entropy alloys reported so far. The microstructure, formation process and wear-resistant mechanism of nano-twinned Si have been clarified by transmission electron microscopy observations, molecule dynamics simulations and the first principles calculations. It demonstrates that the interactive nano-twinned Si structures are mainly introduced through twin-twin collision or the phase/matrix interface prohibition of twin motion, which are effective to restrain atom separation in contrast to eutectic Si perfect crystal, resulting in homogeneous wear-loss and long operation life. Those new results provide insights towards designing wear-resistant materials with high mechanical properties.

Controlled atmosphere as cold chain support for extending postharvest life in cabbage

Postharvest management of cabbage relies on high-intensity cooling to control postharvest physiology, minimising quality loss despite incurring significant energy and environmental costs. As an alternative, we hypothesised that controlled atmosphere (CA) could allow increased storage temperature by supporting physiological regulation, while maintaining quality and reducing energy demand. This study examined the effect CA (1.5 kPa CO2 and 6 kPa O2) at 5 or 10 °C on cabbage quality, with the aim of proposing a more sustainable and resilient supply chain. CA treatment was effective at reducing head respiration at higher temperature, with CA/10 °C treatment achieving lower respiration rates than Control/5 °C. Improved head colour retention and maintenance of stump quality were observed in cabbage under CA conditions. CA effects were seen also at a regulatory level; CA promoted an average of 25.4% reduction in abscisic acid accumulation potentially as part of a wider hypoxia stress response and was successful in decreasing expression of the senescence-coordinating transcription factor BoORE15. This finding was linked with a lower in downstream expression of pheophytinase and subtilisin protease. These results demonstrated that CA treatment fundamentally modified postharvest physiology in cabbage, which can be exploited to enable storage at warmer temperatures, contributing to supply chains with lower energy demand and its associated environmental benefits.

Spatial-temporal evolution characteristics and driving factors analysis of regional energy supply and demand in China

Under the requirements of the Sustainable Development Goals, the study of China's energy development is an important reference for other countries to plan their energy policies. China is facing the problem of slow energy transformation processes and a continuously widening gap between supply and demand. Using panel data for 2012–2021, this study analyzes the characteristics of energy in China's 30 provinces, and clarifies the problems faced by each province. GM (1,1) model is employed to forecast the level of energy development from 2023 to 2030. The LMDI (Logarithmic mean Divisia index) model is utilized to analyze factors impacting energy demand in each province, according to which the design of energy development direction in each region is completed. The study finds that: (1) Overall, energy supply and demand in China are marked by “high in the west, low in the east” and “low in the west, high in the east,” respectively. The energy structure of each region is continuously optimized, but coal still has a high share. (2) The pace of clean energy development is satisfactory. However, natural gas's increase in share is relatively slight on both supply and demand sides. The substitution effect is not in line with the expectations of the transition policy. (3) Economic and investment effect are major contributing factors to increase energy demand, while the technical effect plays a significant part in reducing energy demand. A few insights from this study are provided for the formulation of transition policies in China.

Pathways towards net-zero emissions in Indonesia's energy sector

This research provides a comprehensive analysis of the transition pathways towards net-zero emissions in Indonesia's energy sector by 2050, focussing on overcoming the country's fossil fuel dependency. Utilising EnergyPLAN and MultiNode simulations across three scenarios: Nationally Determined Contribution, High Electrification and Moderate Electrification, the paper presents thorough scenario development and cross-sectoral analysis to capture future energy systems from both supply and demand sides. It contributes notably by detailing scenario-specific energy demands, such as industry sector energy efficiency and electric vehicle penetration and introducing a novel modelling approach that segments the Indonesian energy system into five regional systems. Modelling results indicate the necessity of transitioning towards 100 % renewable energy, emphasising the central role of electricity in future energy systems and the importance of regional connectivity in achieving net-zero emissions. Results also reveal that the Moderate Electrification scenario offers a cost-effective route to net-zero emissions by reducing energy demand and fully exploiting renewable energy sources. The paper concludes with policy recommendations to boost energy efficiency, accelerate electrification, initiate interconnected regional energy systems, and leverage carbon capture and storage as a supplementary measure.

For cash, the planet, or for both: Evaluating an informational intervention for energy consumption reduction

Reductions in residential energy demand (especially by high-consuming households) are critical for climate change mitigation. Interventions that inform people about their energy use and its consequences may encourage them to reduce energy consumption, but such informational interventions have not always been found to be effective. In addition, little is known about the factors that determine the effectiveness of informational interventions. Here, we examined the effect of an informational intervention campaign on household energy use (electricity and gas) in Mechelen, Belgium. Neighborhoods were randomized to different variants of the intervention that emphasized the monetary, environmental, or monetary and environmental consequences of saving energy. Across a three-year study period, we observed significantly larger reductions (two additional percentage points) in gas consumption in the intervention city than in four comparable control cities. This effect was largely driven by reductions in neighborhoods with high baseline levels of gas consumption. No substantial changes were found between neighborhoods that received monetary information, environmental information, or both. Our findings support the effectiveness of informational interventions for the reduction of energy use, point to the special role of high-consuming households, and can inform the design of future intervention campaigns.

Reducing Energy Demand in Concrete Pavements by the Use of Blended Cements

This research explores strategies to minimise energy consumption and enhance environmental sustainability in road construction. Focusing on concrete pavement structures, the study evaluates the impact of substituting Portland cement with environmentally friendly alternatives such as fly ash and blast furnace slag. A comprehensive model is employed to analyse the energy demands of different pavement types, considering various cement replacements over their lifetime, from the initial extraction of materials to the conclusion of construction. Results indicate an energy saving potential of 8.63% by substituting 10% of Portland cement with fly ash, while an impressive reduction of 58.63% in cement production energy is achieved by replacing Portland cement with 80% blast furnace slag. The study underscores the significant role of cement variations in mitigating energy consumption, emphasizes the potential of blast furnace slag as a sustainable alternative as well as highlights the significance of alternative cement types in reducing energy consumption in concrete pavement construction, aligning with environmental sustainability goals and offering insights for more eco-friendly infrastructure development.

Cooperative Drone Transportation of a Cable-Suspended Load: Dynamics and Control

The cooperative transportation of a cable-suspended load by two unmanned rotorcraft is analyzed. Initially, the equations describing a system composed of three point masses and two rigid cables are derived. The model is then linearized about the hovering condition, and analytical expressions are derived to describe the eigenstructure of the open-loop system. Thanks to the specific parameterization of the problem, the different dynamic modes are outlined and discussed within an analytical framework. A novel controller is designed to enable the UAVs in the formation to perform trajectory tracking, maintain formation geometry, and stabilize payload swing simultaneously. A preliminary investigation of closed-loop stability is conducted using a linear approach. Validation is performed in a realistic simulation scenario where two drones are modeled as rigid bodies under the effect of external disturbances and rotor-generated forces and moments, as obtained by Blade Element Theory. The proposed method demonstrates relative simplicity and significantly improves the flying qualities of delivery operations while minimizing hazardous payload oscillations and reducing energy demand.

Coal-based graphitized activated carbon for solar energy powered supercapacitor IoT applications

Solar cells show promise as energy conversion gadgets, but their extended use is limited by intermittent sunlight. Self-powered solar cell integration with an electrical energy storage system could be one solution to this problem. Therefore, we have developed a coin cell supercapacitor (SC) device based on coal-based graphitized carbon materials and integrated with solar cells to assess its efficiency for energy transformation and storage for practical validity. Supercapacitor carbon electrode was developed from a naturally abundant carbon precursor i.e. low-grade coal using molasses as binder, for the fabrication of high-quality SC devices. The fabricated supercapacitor exhibits a notable 127 F g−1 specific capacitance, maintaining 92 % of its initial value for up to 10,000 charge/discharge cycles at 5 A g−1, and a maximum energy density of 70.57 Wh kg−1 and power density of 2000.17 W kg−1. In order to create a self-sustaining power pack, the SCs (4 V) are integrated with a commercial solar cell (6 V, 750 mAh). Importantly, in the presenceof natural sunlight, the solar-powered as-fabricated supercapacitor bankcan significantly power a commercial IoT module (4–6 V, 600 mAh) demonstrating its potential for successful solar-to-electric energy transformation and storage. The findings demonstrate that solar-powered coal-based SC can be explored as an incredibly rapid future-proof energy storage technology that can help reduce energy demand in the foreseeable future.

Thermophysical properties and energy efficiency of a sustainable construction materials produced from local natural waste

Improving the energy efficiency of buildings is crucial for reducing energy demand and moderating the environmental impact due to its large energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Integrating waste into construction materials can offer sustainable and cost-effective solutions for energy-efficient buildings. This study aims to develop new construction materials (plasterboards) formed by gypsum and natural wastes (5% in mass) including Posidonia-Oceanica, sawdust, sheep's wool, and cork granules to substitute filasse in conventional plasterboards. The main objective of this work is to evaluate and compare the thermal properties of the composite materials manufactured and to determine energy saving, optimal insulation thickness and environmental impact when adding the developed plasterboards in the envelope of an office building in a Mediterranean climate. An experimental study is performed to evaluate the thermo-physical properties and a numerical simulation is conducted using design builder software to discuss the energy efficiency of these materials. Results shows that the incorporation of natural waste reduces the thermal conductivity and can reduce heating and cooling needs compared to conventional plasterboard. Specially, plasterboard made with Posidonia-Oceanica fibers which exhibits a reduction of 32 % in thermal conductivity. It achieves an improvement in energy efficiency of 8 % when it is used in roof ceiling. When used as coating-panels in building walls with a thickness of 24 cm, it achieves about 17 % of energy saving. In addition, this study determines the optimum insulation thickness leading to minimize the sum of the insulation investment and the energy costs over the building's lifetime. Four values of building’s lifespan were chosen (10, 20, 30 and 50 years). Results show that for a 10-year building life, the optimum insulation thickness is 9cm, whereas for a longer building life (50 years), the optimum insulation thickness is 19cm. It saves 15.64kWh/m2 of energy required for heating and 2.09kWh/m2 needed for cooling and reduces of about 8.8tons ofCO2 emitted. The use of natural waste as fillers to prepare plasterboards showed a good effectiveness. It provides important energy saving and reduces CO2 emissions. Creating effective insulating materials using local natural waste, could be a valuable step towards establishing a sustainable development approach.

Exploring automated energy optimization with unstructured building data: A multi-agent based framework leveraging large language models

The building sector is a significant energy consumer, making building energy optimization crucial for reducing energy demand. Automating energy optimization tasks eases the workload on engineers and hastens energy savings. More than 85% of building data is unstructured and diverse, concealing energy insights that demand laborious extraction. We propose an LLM-based multi-agent framework to explore automated tasks using these data. The framework includes three stages: building information processing, performance diagnosis, and retrofit recommendation, where LLMs injected with domain expertise act as agents for the roles of planner, researcher and advisor. We develop knowledge databases with retriever tools to inject knowledge and validate through experiments. In case studies, our framework delivered reliable results with only $5.15, effectively handling diverse inputs and tasks across cases. This demonstrates its potential to significantly reduce repetitive human labor and costs. We also discuss the potential of LLM-based multi-agent systems as trustworthy, generalized automated task solvers.

Assessing residential sustainable energy autonomous buildings for hot climate applications

This paper introduces an innovative solution for clean energy autonomous building (AB) sustainability, offering a 5Z concept—zero-carbon, zero-energy, zero grid connections, zero energy bills, and zero emission mobility. This paper focuses on fundamental research to design sustainable, energy-ABs striving for self-sufficiency in arid climates, using Kuwait as a case study. The study highlights the importance of stringent engineering AB modeling, renewable technology integration, and clean energy storage. The technical approaches include characterizing non-thermal and thermal demands, achieving net-zero energy generation, and custom sizing renewable energy and energy storage systems (ESS) for electric vehicle (EV) charging points. The research methodology involves local construction with yearly weather and energy profile data to simulate the actual system using ESP-r building model. The study's findings reveal the need for a large-scale energy system, energy demand reduction (EDR) inclusive of heating, cooling, appliances, and EV, with the corresponding changes in local energy production system size, battery capacity, and the number of photovoltaics (PVs). The results show varying EDR levels ranging from base case to 10% and to 50% leading to proportional changes in energy system size, size of battery from 3415 kWh to 1710 kWh and the number of PVs from 362 to 181, which means EDR not only optimizes space but also proves cost-effective. The significant implication of this study, not only bridging the knowledge gap and the lack of how-know, but also making a significant advancement and forward thinking in sustainable green electric home modernization and environmentally friendly transportation. This approach transforms energy management practices for more sustainable cities and societies, reducing emissions in both urban infrastructure and transportation.

Universal solution to the membrane selectivity challenge: Separation merit and efficiency

Membrane technology holds immense potential across multiple industries, offering sustainable solutions for challenging separations by reducing energy demand and transitioning from thermal to electrical energy. The inherent diversity of membrane technology results in various transport scenarios and phenomena, rendering robust process evaluation and optimization challenging. Addressing this problem, we formulate the cascading selectivity principle (CSP), a universal concept applicable across all membrane separation types, including gas, liquid, and particle filtration. Introducing a distinction between primary and secondary permselectivity, the CSP provides a theoretical basis for novel efficiency indices. We also present the first highly versatile selectivity merit descriptors for true membrane cross-comparison. We demonstrate the advantages of the novel descriptors through a series of real-life nanofiltration, ion separation, gas separation, membrane reactor, and ultrafiltration examples. Facilitated by an online calculator tool, this work offers a standardized framework for academic and industrial professionals to implement pioneering membrane separation systems efficiently across the multiple disciplines of membrane technology.

Integrating direct air capture with algal biofuel production to reduce cost, energy, and GHG emissions

We investigate the potential to reduce costs and greenhouse gas emissions of the utilization of direct air capture of CO2 (DAC) for the production of algal biofuel. We examine four integrated designs for a DAC system comprised of solid amine monolith adsorbents delivering CO2 at the required level for algae cultivation with a photobioreactor (PBR)-based fuel production facility. We show that the integration of DAC with this biofuel production facility provides cost and greenhouse gas emissions benefits. Heat integration decreases operating expenses by reducing energy demand for heating requirements. Mass integration, utilizing flue gas CO2 as a carbon source for the PBRs, decreases the DAC system scale, resulting in both capital and operating cost savings. The most advantageous option depends on the interplay of heat and mass integration while matching the diurnal rhythm of algal growth with the inherently steady pace and energy requirements of the DAC system and fuel production. For these technologies, the DAC-PBR mass and energy integration provides an 18 % cost reduction and a 50 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for the current state of the technology.

Assessing the performance of infrared thermography and PIV methods to identify and characterize the air inlets and outlets in wall assemblies

Building airtightness is crucial for reducing energy demand in the building sector and preventing moisture damage and indoor environment quality issues. Mandatory airtightness tests are now commonly performed in many countries to quantify the total envelope leakage rate of real buildings. For a more precise diagnosis, air leakages are usually identified by infrared thermography or visualized by smoke. However, a finer analysis is also needed to characterize precisely the air flow through specific leaks. Numerical models have been developed for this purpose but experimental data are necessary to validate them. In this paper, two experimental approaches are tested on simple light-wall assembly configurations to address this need: infrared thermography (IRT) and the innovative use of particle image velocimetry (PIV) with a specific experimental set-up and protocol developed. The results are compared with each other as well as with numerical simulations. Results showed that both techniques can be applied for the experimental characterization of the air inlet/outlet of a wall assembly with different advantages and drawbacks. IRT is easy to implement, non-intrusive, possible for in-situ investigations, but the correlation between the thermographs and the air dispersion at the outlet is not straight forward due to thermal inertia and heat conduction issues. PIV gives direct results on the velocity field and enables quantitative analysis of air flow rates for various configurations, with some limitations: a difficult implementation; restrictions on the possible infiltration velocity range and difficulties to visualize the flow exactly at the interface with the wall assembly.

Advanced Simulation and Analysis of Anisotropic Warp Fields with Positive Energy

This paper presents a comprehensive theoretical model for a warp bubble that enables faster-than-light travel using positive energy densities, an advancement over traditional models that rely on exotic negative energies. Building on the framework proposed by Eric Lentz, we introduce a non-uniform energy distribution model to enhance control and efficiency in warp field generation. The research validates the stability and feasibility of a warp bubble sustained by positive energy through detailed numerical simulations and analysis. Key findings include the discovery of anisotropic behavior in the warp bubble's structure, which allows for directional tuning of the warp field, thereby optimizing space- time manipulation and reducing energy demands. These results represent a significant step forward in the theoretical foundations of warp drive technology and its potential practical applications.

Outdoor testbeds for studies on performance of building envelopes: review and recommendations

High-performance building envelope materials, components and systems have been developed to achieve reduction in energy demand and meanwhile maintaining a satisfactory indoor environmental quality. The performance of building envelopes is generally assessed through numerical and experimental methods. Experimental work conducted with outdoor testbeds provides live data under real weather conditions, and therefore become an effective approach to evaluating the performance façade technologies. This paper reviewed 82 outdoor testbeds employed in studies on performance of building envelopes. They are categorized according to scale and form. Representatives in each category are discussed in details, and the main features are compared and summarized systematically. The functions of testbeds are analyzed according to the dedicated experimental purposes. Different construction materials and structures are also compared. On this basis, recommendations are made for future design, construction and application of outdoor testbeds.