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Energy Efficiency of the Buildings

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A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "G: Energy and Buildings".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2022) | Viewed by 37364

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Prof. Dr. Jozsef Nyers

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School of Applied Informatics and Applied Mathematics, Obuda University Budapest, Bécsi út 96/B, 1034 Budapest, Hungary
Interests: renewable energies; heat pumps; heat pump heating systems; thermal isolation; energy and energy-economical optimization; mathematical models
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Árpád Nyers

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Guest Editor

Department of Building Services and Building Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University Pecs, 7622 Pécs, Hungary
Interests: heat pumps; heat pump heating-cooling systems; energy efficiency; thermal isulation, Mathematic models; energy optimization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the developed world, energy consumption is rapidly growing, and so is the environmental load. One consequence of it is global warming. Buildings make a major contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, the aim of the Special Issue is to publish papers presenting the possibilities to improve energy performance of buildings based on the latest research results.

The potential for energy savings in buildings mainly lies in the use of the thermal insulation, renewable energy sources and, to some extent, energy storage.

Energy consumption is slightly affected by the control of heating–cooling systems and the value of comfort parameters. Therefore, the Special Issue involves the aforementioned scope and topics.

In order to increase the energy efficiency of buildings, we would like to ask colleagues to participate in this Special Issue by presenting their new research results in scientific papers.

We invite papers on innovation, reviews, case studies, analytical and numerical energy optimization, as well as assessment papers about the discipline of energy-efficient buildings.

Of course, the listed scope (keywords) can be expanded with other topics, as well.

Prof. Dr. Jozsef Nyers
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Árpád Nyers
Guest Editors

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. Energies 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 2600 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

Thermal isolation of the buildings
Heat storage systems
Energy effective heating and cooling systems
Thermal comfort and energy efficiency
Building operation and monitoring
Control systems in the buildings
Energy recovery systems

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Related Special Issue

Energy Efficiency of the Buildings II in Energies (13 articles)

Published Papers (12 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 5945 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Challenges and Opportunities for Integrating RE Systems in Egyptian Building Stocks

by Ahmad I. Elshamy, Engy Elshazly, Olugbenga Timo Oladinrin, Muhammad Qasim Rana, Rasha Said Abd el-Lateef, Seif Tarek El-Badry, Mahmoud Elthakaby, Ahmed M. R. Elbaz, Khaled Dewidar and Iman El-Mahallawi

Energies 2022, 15(23), 8988; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15238988 - 28 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2611

Abstract

The twentieth century started with engineers’ new concepts and ideas to develop the built environment, with ideas ranging from reducing weight to automated industrialisation, enhancing energy efficiency, etc. However, they failed to predict the negative impact of automation on the environment and its resources. Therefore, future technologies proposed by engineers should consider the adverse effects on nature and the surrounding ecosystem. Using the science of ecology and integrating it into building typology can help avoid unwanted scenarios. Such technologies prioritise the performance of buildings and cities by using simulation tools to explore more ideas for designing and testing their performance. This work explores the obstacles and challenges opposing the plan to successfully supply Egypt with clean, renewable energy that reaches 42% of its total electricity. Furthermore, some solutions are proposed to tackle those barriers, such as installing thermal cooling systems and ball wind turbines in residential buildings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency of the Buildings)

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17 pages, 6064 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Arrangement of LEDs and Their Impact on Thermal Operating Conditions in High-Power Luminaires

by Antoni Różowicz, Henryk Wachta, Krzysztof Baran, Marcin Leśko and Sebastian Różowicz

Energies 2022, 15(21), 8142; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15218142 - 1 Nov 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1674

Abstract

Solid-state light sources are currently the fastest-growing group of light sources, replacing the previously used discharge and incandescent light sources. Thermal operating conditions of LEDs (Light Emitting Diode) play an important role in t maintaining long service life and constancy of luminous-electrical parameters. In the field of illumination, the service life parameter of light sources is important for the costs of maintenance of the illumination system, while the maintenance of the value of certain light parameters over time, such as luminous flux, color temperature and color rendering index, is related to the aesthetic effect of the illumination. In addition, limiting the junction temperature of solid-state light sources is particularly important in high-power luminaires dedicated to flood illumination. One of the elements shaping the thermal operating conditions of multi-source LED luminaires is the number of luminaires used, their arrangement, and the distance between LEDs installed on the MCPCB (Metal Core Printed Circuit Board) substrate. This article presents the results of simulation studies, realized using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) software, where the temperature distribution and the junction temperature of the LED panel were determined for different configurations and distances between the LEDs. The results obtained were analyzed and conclusions were drawn based on them. Thermal tests performed and presented in the article cover scientific issues related to shaping the temperature distribution of the LED panel. They make it possible to determine the influence of thermal couplings between the sources, related to their number, distance and the value of the forward current, on the final temperature of the LED junction temperature. The presented research results may constitute auxiliary materials for designers of lighting luminaires, especially high-power luminaires, where a large number of high-power LED sources are installed in close proximity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency of the Buildings)

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16 pages, 5059 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Performance Evaluation of a Nearly Zero-Energy Office Building in Temperate Oceanic Climate Based on Field Measurements

by Deepak Amaripadath, Mirjana Velickovic and Shady Attia

Energies 2022, 15(18), 6755; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15186755 - 15 Sep 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1960

Abstract

This field study evaluated the building performance of a nearly zero-energy office building near Brussels, Belgium, located in the temperate climatic zone. The building’s thermal comfort and energy parameters were monitored from May 2018 to April 2019. The time-integrated thermal discomfort, primary energy use, and greenhouse gas emissions from the building were then analyzed using the monitored data. The case study evaluated the HVAC system performance with an air-cooled chiller with water cooling coils and a water boiler with water heating coils. The findings indicated an indoor overheating degree of 0.05 °C and an indoor overcooling degree of 0 °C for the observed period. The building’s primary cooling energy use was found to be 37.54 kWh_PE/m².a and primary heating energy use was found to be 46.08 kWh_PE/m².a for the monitored period. The cooling and heating greenhouse gas emissions were 10.14 kg.CO₂e/m².a and 8.34 kg.CO₂e/m².a, respectively. The observed data also indicated that the HVAC system in the building was operational throughout the monitoring period from May 2018 to April 2019, including a 24/7 schedule. Finally, the paper provided implications for practice and future work based on the study findings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency of the Buildings)

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21 pages, 4807 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thermal Performance Evaluation of Window Shutters for Residential Buildings: A Case Study of Abu Dhabi, UAE

by Abdullah Khalid Abdullah, Abeer Darsaleh, Shaimaa Abdelbaqi and Maatouk Khoukhi

Energies 2022, 15(16), 5858; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15165858 - 12 Aug 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2513

Abstract

The research is aimed at comparing residential building windows’ thermal performance with and without thermal shutters, and at examining thermal shutters’ performance upon being insulated with various types of insulation, glares, outside temperatures, and solar radiation. As an example, one case study based out of the UAE is chosen, covering the status of the housing typology and traits of building energy consumption. The study uses the primary tool of computer simulation software “DesignBuilder” to examine the impact of window shutters design on energy consumption and environmental impact. It was found that the usage of conventional insulating materials within the shutters is sufficient for the house to attain a reduction in heat gain of up to 50%. Furthermore, the application of the rolling shutters with analyzed control strategies recorded a potential reduction in equivalent CO₂ emissions level, up to 15%, which would decrease the environmental burden on a national level. The simulations have shown high insulating materials did not differ much in the reduction in energy when running a simulation for a whole unit of housing rather than experimenting a window unit separably as reviewed in the literature. The findings can be applicable to other regions with similar climatic conditions and cultural constraints, such as those of the Middle East and the GCC countries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency of the Buildings)

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14 pages, 5593 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Efficient Method to Compute Thermal Parameters of the Comfort Map Using a Decreased Number of Measurements

by Balázs Cakó, Erzsébet Szeréna Zoltán, János Girán, Gabriella Medvegy, Mária Eördöghné Miklós, Árpád Nyers, Anett Tímea Grozdics, Zsolt Kisander, Viktor Bagdán and Ágnes Borsos

Energies 2021, 14(18), 5632; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14185632 - 8 Sep 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2792

Abstract

This paper presents an empirical approach to design ideal workplaces using the PMV-PPD (predicted mean vote–predicted percentage dissatisfied) method set in ISO 7730 in terms of thermal comfort. The key concept behind our method is that the overall employee satisfaction might be improved if they can select the most suitable desk based on their personal comfort preferences. To support desk sharing, we designed a comfort map toolkit, which can visualize the distribution of comfort parameters within office spaces. The article describes the steps to create comfort maps with methods already widely used, as well as a new one developed by our research team, including the measurement procedures and the theoretical background required. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency of the Buildings)

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21 pages, 1182 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quantification of the Flexibility of Residential Prosumers

by István G. Balázs, Attila Fodor and Attila Magyar

Energies 2021, 14(16), 4860; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14164860 - 9 Aug 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2129

Abstract

Balancing in a distributed generation network is an increasingly difficult task because of the increasing number of residential prosumers on the power network. This paper proposes a framework for the estimation, as well as the prediction of the power flexibility of residential prosumers. In order to quantify the residential buildings’ demand flexibility, a thermoelectric simulation model of a typical residential house was developed based on first engineering principles. Based on the calculated flexibility values, a simple prediction method was used to give a short-term forecast of the prosumer flexibility. The results were validated by simulation experiments incorporating real data for four different scenarios. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency of the Buildings)

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15 pages, 3897 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Ceiling Heating and Mechanical Ventilation on Thermal Comfort

by Balázs András-Tövissi, László Kajtár and Árpád Nyers

Energies 2021, 14(12), 3712; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14123712 - 21 Jun 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2107

Abstract

In the case of public buildings with ceiling heating and mechanical ventilation, radiant temperature asymmetry caused by the warm ceiling and draught occur simultaneously. The currently available literature does not offer an exhaustive description of the comfort conditions resulting from such a thermal environment. This research focuses on complementing the available knowledge, using instrumental measurements, as well as subject measurements carried out on 20 individuals. Relying on these measurements, the purpose of the research is to support the understanding of the combined mechanisms of action of the two local discomfort parameters. The main result of this research is that, if the predicted percentage dissatified is less than 6%, the radiant temperature asymmetry is in an interval of 5–15 °C, and the draught rate is 15% or 25%, the actual mean vote and the predicted mean vote values differ significantly, and the actual mean vote is always lower, with a few exceptions. In addition, the research highlights the changes of the actual mean vote caused by raising the draught rate from 15% to 25%, in the presence of radiant temperature asymmetry caused by warm ceilings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency of the Buildings)

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10 pages, 2182 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Operational Testing of a Solid Fuel Boiler with Different Fuels

by Norbert Érces and László Kajtár

Energies 2021, 14(10), 2966; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14102966 - 20 May 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2250

Abstract

In the course of our investigations, we burned high-quality logs as well as wood briquettes in a conventional, manually fed mixed-fired boiler, under different operating parameters. Based on the evaluation of the measurement results, there is a significant difference in terms of recoverable energy and carbon monoxide emissions for the two fuels burned in the same device at different air supply parameters. Studies have shown that a constantly changing position of the draft control door has an adverse effect on carbon monoxide emissions as well as the energy produced. In the case of a constant draft door setting, the preset values that can be considered ideal for energy yield and CO emissions were determined for the two fuel types. The obtained results were compared with the requirements according to the MSZ EN 303-5 standard. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency of the Buildings)

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Review

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30 pages, 627 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

A Review of Data-Driven Approaches for Measurement and Verification Analysis of Building Energy Retrofits

by Abdurahman Alrobaie and Moncef Krarti

Energies 2022, 15(21), 7824; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15217824 - 22 Oct 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3013

Abstract

Although the energy and cost benefits for retrofitting existing buildings are promising, several challenges remain for accurate measurement and verification (M&V) analysis to estimate these benefits. Due to the rapid development in advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), data-driven approaches are becoming more effective than deterministic methods in developing baseline energy models for existing buildings using historical energy consumption data. The literature review presented in this paper provides an extensive summary of data-driven approaches suitable for building energy consumption prediction needed for M&V applications. The presented literature review describes commonly used data-driven modeling approaches including linear regressions, decision trees, ensemble methods, support vector machine, deep learning, and kernel regressions. The advantages and limitations of each data-driven modeling approach and its variants are discussed, including their cited applications. Additionally, feature engineering methods used in building energy data-driven modeling are outlined and described based on reported case studies to outline commonly used building features as well as selection and processing techniques of the most relevant features. This review highlights the gap between the listed existing frameworks and recently reported case studies using data-driven models. As a conclusion, this review demonstrates the need for a flexible M&V analysis framework to identify the best data-driven methods and their associated features depending on the building type and retrofit measures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency of the Buildings)

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24 pages, 2152 KiB

Open AccessReview

Evaluation of the Quality of the Housing Environment Using Multi-Criteria Analysis That Includes Energy Efficiency: A Review

by Łukasz Mazur, Anna Bać, Magdalena Daria Vaverková, Jan Winkler, Aleksandra Nowysz and Eugeniusz Koda

Energies 2022, 15(20), 7750; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15207750 - 20 Oct 2022

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2938

Abstract

The quality of the housing environment (HE) is an important issue that has a direct impact on the life of inhabitants. Aiming for quality in residential architecture begins with a well-designed HE, with the designing process being a value that is difficult to evaluate. Nowadays, a well-designed HE takes into account the energy efficiency of a building. An appropriate degree of thermal comfort, which is required by inhabitants, needs to be considered at the design stage. Designers can use building certification programs and multi-criteria analysis to motivate investors to construct buildings in accordance with energy efficiency requirements. These systems respond to the needs of energy efficiency, thermal comfort, sustainable heating, and ventilation. Defining ways and methods to evaluate quality in architectural projects will allow the value of the HE to be improved. For this purpose, a multi-criteria analysis of five systems that can be used to evaluate HE quality and energy efficiency in a temperate climate was conducted: (1) Building For Life 12, (2) Home Quality Mark, (3) Housing Quality Indicators, (4) Système D’évaluation De Logements (Sel), and (5) NF Habitat-NF Habitat HQE. This analysis concerned information about the systems, their applicability in practice, and the applied assessment measures. The article shows that the quality of the HE consists of specific factors that can be distinguished and indicated by evaluation systems. As a result of the carried out assessment of the housing environment, 13 original categories of building assessment criteria were defined. The results of the conducted analysis indicated that it is possible to: (i) identify factors for the improvement of HE quality; (ii) prepare objective systems for the measurement of the HE; and (iii) use such systems in practice, e.g., in the design industry, real estates, and public administration. Moreover, the systems can be used in legal regulations for updating urban policies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency of the Buildings)

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30 pages, 28880 KiB

Open AccessReview

Role of Architectural Design in Creating Circadian-Effective Interior Settings

by Baraa J. Alkhatatbeh and Somayeh Asadi

Energies 2021, 14(20), 6731; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14206731 - 16 Oct 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 6952

Abstract

Daylight variability throughout the day makes it an ideal light source for the stimulation of humans’ circadian systems. However, the key criteria, including proper quantity, quality, and hours of access to daylight, are not always present inside the built environment. Therefore, artificial light is necessary to complement the human’s visual and non-visual needs for light. Architectural design parameters, such as window area, orientation, glazing material, and surface reflectance alter the characteristics of both daylight and artificial light inside buildings. These parameters and their impact on lighting design should be considered from the early design stages to attain a circadian-effective design. In response to this need, a design approach called Human-Centric Lighting (HCL) was introduced. HCL places humans, and their visual and non-visual needs, in the center of the design process. It manipulates the light-related factors, such as spectrum and intensity, within the built environment for circadian benefits. The effect of HCL on lighting energy efficiency is still not clear. This paper reviews essential architectural design parameters and their impacts on circadian lighting design, considers the HCL design process and explores the most widely used circadian lighting metrics and standards. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency of the Buildings)

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23 pages, 620 KiB

Open AccessReview

How Smart Meter Data Analysis Can Support Understanding the Impact of Occupant Behavior on Building Energy Performance: A Comprehensive Review

by Jacqueline Nicole Adams, Zsófia Deme Bélafi, Miklós Horváth, János Balázs Kocsis and Tamás Csoknyai

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2502; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092502 - 27 Apr 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4090

Abstract

The goal of this literature review was to outline the research currently conducted on smart meter (SM) adoption and its connection to building occupant behavior to better understand both SM technology and SM customers. We compiled our findings from the existing literature and developed a holistic understanding of the socio-demographic factors that lead to more or less energy use, the methods used to group and cluster occupants on the basis of energy use, how occupant energy use profiles are developed, and which socio-psychological determinants may influence SM adoption. Our results highlight 11 demographic variables that impact building energy use, find 9 methods commonly used to profile occupants on the basis of energy usage, and highlight 13 socio-psychological variables than can be utilized to better understand SM adoption intentions. The review findings two major deficiencies in the existing literature. First, this review highlights the lack of existing interdisciplinary research that combines occupant behavior with SM data and a clear socio-psychological framework. Second, this review underscores certain data limitations in existing SM research, with most research being conducted only on residential or office buildings and geographically in North America or Western Europe. Final policy recommendations center on increased need for interdisciplinary SM research and the need for an expanded understanding of occupant behavior and SM research across different geographies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency of the Buildings)

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