Search results for "Energy performance"
showing 10 items of 37 documents
The impact of thermophysical properties and hysteresis effects on the energy performance simulation of PCM wallboards: Experimental studies, modellin…
2020
Abstract This paper presents a combined experimental and numerical procedure, developed to test the thermophysical behaviour of a real scale PCM wallboard, aiming at providing reliable data for the validation of building energy performance simulation tools. Data obtained from two experimental tests, conducted on real building elements integrating PCM undergoing complete and incomplete phase change, are considered for assessing the impact of thermal properties and hysteresis. A comprehensive comparative numerical analysis, performed by means of an in-house developed simulation tool, called DETECt, is carried out to investigate the reliability of several modelling and simulation approaches av…
Transparent and sustainable materials
2013
The search for greater transparency in buildings characterizes the current architectural scenario: the use of glass is more and more common in both the design of new buildings and for renovation. However, the design of the transparent part of the building envelope is critical to the achievement of efficiency and sustainability. There are several research companies that aim to improve the energy performance especially of the glass. Today there is a wide range of products capable of providing different solutions, depending on the aesthetic and technical requirements of the structure in question. The aim of this article is to provide a clear overview of the possibilities of the transparent mat…
Fostering the energy efficiency through the energy savings: The case of the University of Palermo
2019
This paper reports the strategy implemented by the Palermo University (Italy) aimed at fostering the energy performance of its campus, particularly towards financing energy saving measures. The basic idea is that the money saved through the energy efficiency actions, constitute the main flywheel to fund further savings and energy efficiency interventions. Results of this paper might bring a useful contribution to the energy planning of cities, since campuses may be regarded as emblematic case study of what can be done in cities because they reproduce, at a little scale, the functioning of wider urban contexts.
Calculation of Energy Performance Indices of Daylight Linked Control Systems by Monitored Data
2017
The actual performances of Building Automation systems are often lower than the ideal ones. In order to investigate the actual performance of a Building Automation system for lighting control, a large stock of collected data, including indoor illuminance and absorbed electric power, have been presented and analysed in this paper. The measures have been taken during one year, in a laboratory located at the University of Palermo, where different lighting control systems, produced by two different manufacture companies, have been installed. As demonstrated in literature, many factors affecting energy savings’ evaluation in lighting control systems are the position and the typology of the senso…
Monitoring and energy performance assessment of an advanced DEC HVAC system in Morocco
2017
This work addresses the energy performance of a solar Desiccant and Evaporative Cooling (DEC) system working with the freescoo technology. Freescoo is an innovative solar air conditioning concept for ventilation, cooling, dehumidification and heating of buildings in residential and tertiary sectors. The monitoring of the system started in November 2016 and will continue until the end of 2017. Energy performances are evaluated according to the monitoring procedure for solar cooling systems developed by the Task 38 and 48 of the International Energy Agency experts. The analysis based on monitoring data shows that, for typical operating conditions in cooling mode, the electricity saving in com…
Old or new occupants of energy rehabilitated buildings. Two different approaches for hierarchizing group of buildings
2017
Abstract Public Administrations are frequently entitled to intervene in building stocks with energy rehabilitation actions. Unfortunately, the monetary budget at their disposal is generally limited and, consequently, a prioritization criterion is needed to optimize its allocation. The classification of the building energy performance is increasingly used by Public Administrations for this purpose. Here we argue that a proper prioritization criterion should depend upon the potential subjects to which the rehabilitated buildings are given back. If the energy rehabilitation is conducted on buildings that will be assigned to new dwellers, it would be preferable to use the energy class – which i…
Municipal Building Regulations for Energy Efficiency in Southern Italy
2014
The building sector is still one of the most energy consuming sectors in Italy, like developed countries in Europe. At European level, the main policy driver related to the energy use in buildings is the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD, 2002/91/EC) and its recast. Through the EPBD in- troduction, requirements for certification, inspections, training or renovation are now imposed in Member States. In order to fulfill the expected changes, local regulations are a key factor aiming at sustainable territorial planning. It is thus required support the issue of local rules at municipal level in order to guide local administrators and technicians and to limit discretional power of …
Experimental Evidence on the Thermal Performance of Opaque Surfaces in Mediterranean Climate
2013
The thermal insulation of buildings, intended as wrap feature which determines the dispersion of heat, the reference parameter is necessary to contain the thermal losses during the winter season. The transmittance of the opaque components, used as an indicator of the energy quality of a casing, together with the overall coefficient of dispersion, represents a proper descriptor of the behavior during the heating season. However, if a strong insulation in winter conditions brings only positive effects, the same cannot be said for the summer conditions. A high value of the insulation in the casing is convenient only when the gains free, either in the form of solar contribution that of endogeno…
Experimental Evidence on the Thermal Performance of Opaque Surfaces in Mediterranean Climate
2013
The thermal insulation of buildings, intended as wrap feature which determines the dispersion of heat, the reference parameter is necessary to contain the thermal losses during the winter season. The transmittance of the opaque components, used as an indicator of the energy quality of a casing, together with the overall coefficient of dispersion, represents a proper descriptor of the behavior during the heating season. However, if a strong insulation in winter conditions brings only positive effects, the same cannot be said for the summer conditions. A high value of the insulation in the casing is convenient only when the gains free, either in the form of solar contribution that of endogeno…
Green Roofs as Effective Tools for Improving the Indoor Comfort Levels of Buildings—An Application to a Case Study in Sicily
2020
In the line of pursuing better energy efficiency in human activities that would result in a more sustainable utilization of resources, the building sector plays a relevant role, being responsible for almost 40% of both energy consumption and the release of pollutant substances in the atmosphere. For this purpose, techniques aimed at improving the energy performances of buildings&rsquo