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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2021) | Viewed by 36148

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Roberto Alonso González Lezcano

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Departamento de Arquitectura y Diseño, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad CEU San Pablo, Madrid, Spain
Interests: efficient ventilation strategies; habits and comfort of the occupants; energy-efficient buildings; building codes and standards; indoor environmental quality; sustainable building materials; passive and active strategies; energy-saving strategies; lighting comfort; acoustic comfort; air quality monitoring; air pollution control; housing and health; HVAC control systems
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We currently live in a global context where climate change has paved the way for new initiatives to reduce carbon emissions. In light of this situation, the focus on GHG emissions management, the environmental impact of the built environment, and the optimization of environmental performance have become essential. Since most energy losses are due to air renovations and infiltrations, building ventilation has become a difficult challenge to improve energy management, as it is also closely related to human health and well-being. For this reason, it is vital that possible implementation techniques take into account the balance between indoor air quality and energy efficiency in the air renovations of buildings. Focusing on this will allow us to have a deeper understanding of buildings’ ventilation, as well as the quality of the air introduced. Original works that also deal with methodologies, numerical and experimental research, and case studies with a particular focus on the comfort conditions of the occupants and the influence of occupant habits in sustainable buildings and the effects of climate change on the built environment are welcome. Topics of interest include but are not exclusive to:

Efficient ventilation strategies;
Habits and comfort of the occupants;
Energy efficient buildings;
Building codes and standards;
Sustainable building materials;
Passive and active strategies;
Energy-saving strategies;
Air quality monitoring;
Air pollution control;
Housing and health;
HVAC control systems.

Prof. Dr. Roberto Alonso González Lezcano
Guest Editor

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Keywords

indoor air quality
renewable energy
sustainable building
occupant comfort
ventilation systems
sustainable architecture
HVAC management
occupant habits
healthy building
building energy performance
building energy efficiency
air pollution
smart buildings
TVOC

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 3301 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Implementation of a Ventilation Protocol for SARS-CoV-2 in a Higher Educational Centre

by Alberto Meiss, Irene Poza-Casado, Alfredo Llorente-Álvarez, Héctor Jimeno-Merino and Miguel Ángel Padilla-Marcos

Energies 2021, 14(19), 6172; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14196172 - 27 Sep 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2189

Abstract

The most recent research confirms that airborne transmission may be the dominant mode of SARS-CoV-2 virus spread in the interior spaces of buildings. Consequently, based on some prescriptions that implemented natural ventilation during face-to-face lessons in a university centre, an experimental characterization of several complementary options aimed at reinforcing the prevention and safety of the occupants was carried out. The action protocol adopted was based on the combination of mandatory natural ventilation, a maximum contribution of outdoor air supply in the air conditioning system, and the use of filtering devices located inside the classroom. All the strategies were incorporated concomitantly with necessary compliance with the basic conditions of social distance, occupation, use of masks and guidelines for use and cleaning within educational buildings. The suitability of this protocol was further evaluated throughout the teaching day with students and teachers by measuring the CO₂ concentration. The results showed that the measures implemented successfully removed the possible pollutants generated inside. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency and Indoor Environment Quality)

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14 pages, 6534 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Airflow Analysis of the Haida Plank House, a Breathing Envelope

by Roberto Alonso González Lezcano and María Jesús Montero Burgos

Energies 2021, 14(16), 4871; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14164871 - 10 Aug 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2677

Abstract

The Haida plank house is one of the most important models built by the native American Indians. Built on the southwest coast of Canada, it adapts the tradition of the ancient pit houses to the requirements of the humid and cold climate characteristic of the Haida Gwaii Islands. This construction is composed by two main pieces: the central pit covered by a wooden envelope. Both protect its dwellers and their hearths. The ventilation system is based on two solutions: the gaps between the wall planks and a smoke hole that can be opened or closed in the roof at will. The aim of the present research is to analyze the way these two elements arrange the indoor airflow in order to ensure the comfortability of the house. Four cases have been proposed, according to four different dimensions for the gaps: 1, 2, 3 and 4 cm. Each case has been doubled in order to determine how the state of the smoke hole affected the corresponding results. This way, it has been concluded that if the gaps’ width becomes higher than 4 cm, the airflow velocity comfort level would be exceeded. It is been possible to observe how the state of the smoke hole influences the way the air moves around the dwelling. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency and Indoor Environment Quality)

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27 pages, 31328 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Spirit of Time—The Art of Self-Renovation to Improve Indoor Environment in Cultural Heritage Buildings

by Coline Senior, Alenka Temeljotov Salaj, Milena Vukmirovic, Mina Jowkar and Živa Kristl

Energies 2021, 14(13), 4056; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14134056 - 5 Jul 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4047

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to explore the challenges of an old low-standard urban district with a strong historical and cultural heritage and propose more sustainable renovation solutions, acceptable for the residents and municipality. The challenges of physical renovation or refurbishment are complex due to poor condition of the buildings, municipal ownership and governance, mixed management with community and low rents, which are insufficient to cover the costs. The paper discusses the proposed solutions of living standards, supported by the research in two directions: (i) available resources and reuse of materials, (ii) developing a renovation guidance for inhabitants from the building physics perspective, including indoor environment quality. Challenges related to energy efficiency are addressed from the decision-making perspective to overcome the barrier of lack of motivation to invest in energy-efficient measures at the individual and community level. The interdisciplinary approach complements engineering-focused studies with a focus on the comfort conditions and the influence of occupant habits in sustainable buildings. The methods used were literature review, case studies with observations and survey, looking to cover all technical, social, and historical aspects of sustainable renovation of cultural heritage buildings with the same level of importance. Results show that to keep a sustainable, low-cost urban living model, instructions for self-renovation are a valuable guidance for non-professional actors to make more sustainable choices. In conclusion, we can emphasize that inhabitants are accustomed to lower living standards, so the project is aimed to present the proper solutions for improvement as a balance between new sustainable technical solutions, personal self-renovation skills, habits, and health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency and Indoor Environment Quality)

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14 pages, 1822 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pandemic of Childhood Myopia. Could New Indoor LED Lighting Be Part of the Solution?

by David Baeza Moyano and Roberto Alonso González-Lezcano

Energies 2021, 14(13), 3827; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14133827 - 25 Jun 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4478

Abstract

The existence of a growing myopia pandemic is an unquestionable fact for health authorities around the world. Different possible causes have been put forward over the years, such as a possible genetic origin, the current excess of children’s close-up work compared to previous stages in history, insufficient natural light, or a multifactorial cause. Scientists are looking for different possible solutions to alleviate it, such as a reduction of time or a greater distance for children’s work, the use of drugs, optometric correction methods, surgical procedures, and spending more time outdoors. There is a growing number of articles suggesting insufficient natural light as a possible cause of the increasing levels of childhood myopia around the globe. Technological progress in the world of lighting is making it possible to have more monochromatic LED emission peaks, and because of this, it is possible to create spectral distributions of visible light that increasingly resemble natural light in the visible range. The possibility of creating indoor luminaires that emit throughout the visible spectrum from purple to infrared can now be a reality that could offer a new avenue of research to fight this pandemic. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency and Indoor Environment Quality)

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20 pages, 4481 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Zero Energy Building Economic and Energetic Assessment with Simulated and Real Data Using Photovoltaics and Water Flow Glazing

by Fernando del Ama Gonzalo, Belen Moreno Santamaria, José Antonio Ferrándiz Gea, Matthew Griffin and Juan A. Hernandez Ramos

Energies 2021, 14(11), 3272; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14113272 - 3 Jun 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2665

Abstract

The new paradigm of Net Zero Energy buildings is a challenge for architects and engineers, especially in buildings with large glazing areas. Water Flow Glazing (WFG) is a dynamic façade technology shown to reduce heating and cooling loads for buildings significantly. Photovoltaic panels placed on building roofs can generate enough electricity from solar energy without generating greenhouse gases in operation or taking up other building footprints. This paper investigates the techno-economic viability of a grid-connected solar photovoltaic system combined with water flow glazing. An accurate assessment of the economic and energetic feasibility is carried out through simulation software and on-site tests on an actual prototype. The assessment also includes the analysis of global warming potential reduction. A prototype with WFG envelope has been tested. The WFG prototype actual data reported primary energy savings of 62% and 60% CO₂ equivalent emission reduction when comparing WFG to a reference triple glazing. Finally, an economic report of the Photovoltaic array showed the Yield Factor and the Levelized Cost of Energy of the system. Savings over the operating lifetime can compensate for the high initial investment that these two technologies require. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency and Indoor Environment Quality)

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17 pages, 2729 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Life Cycle Assessment of Dynamic Water Flow Glazing Envelopes: A Case Study with Real Test Facilities

by Belen Moreno Santamaria, Fernando del Ama Gonzalo, Matthew Griffin, Benito Lauret Aguirregabiria and Juan A. Hernandez Ramos

Energies 2021, 14(8), 2195; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14082195 - 14 Apr 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2344

Abstract

High initial costs hinder innovative technologies for building envelopes. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) should consider energy savings to show relevant economic benefits and potential to reduce energy consumption and CO₂ emissions. Life Cycle Cost (LCC) and Life Cycle Energy (LCE) should focus on investment, operation, maintenance, dismantling, disposal, and/or recycling for the building. This study compares the LCC and LCE analysis of Water Flow Glazing (WFG) envelopes with traditional double and triple glazing facades. The assessment considers initial, operational, and disposal costs and energy consumption as well as different energy systems for heating and cooling. Real prototypes have been built in two different locations to record real-world data of yearly operational energy. WFG systems consistently showed a higher initial investment than traditional glazing. The final Life Cycle Cost analysis demonstrates that WFG systems are better over the operation phase only when it is compared with a traditional double-glazing. However, a Life Cycle Energy assessment over 50 years concluded that energy savings between 36% and 66% and CO₂ emissions reduction between 30% and 70% could be achieved. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency and Indoor Environment Quality)

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16 pages, 4197 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Actual Weather Datasets for Calibrating White-Box Building Energy Models Base on Monitored Data

by Vicente Gutiérrez González, Germán Ramos Ruiz and Carlos Fernández Bandera

Energies 2021, 14(4), 1187; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14041187 - 23 Feb 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3540

Abstract

The need to reduce energy consumption in buildings is an urgent task. Increasing the use of calibrated building energy models (BEM) could accelerate this need. The calibration process of these models is a highly under-determined problem that normally yields multiple solutions. Among the uncertainties of calibration, the weather file has a primary position. The objective of this paper is to provide a methodology for selecting the optimal weather file when an on-site weather station with local sensors is available and what is the alternative option when it is not and a mathematically evaluation has to be done with sensors from nearby stations (third-party providers). We provide a quality assessment of models based on the Coefficient of Variation of the Root Mean Square Error (CV(RMSE)) and the Square Pearson Correlation Coefficient (

R^{2}

). The research was developed on a control experiment conducted by Annex 58 and a previous calibration study. This is based on the results obtained with the study case based on the data provided by their N2 house. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency and Indoor Environment Quality)

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12 pages, 2334 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Real-Time Reconstruction of Contaminant Dispersion from Sparse Sensor Observations with Gappy POD Method

by Zheming Tong and Yue Li

Energies 2020, 13(8), 1956; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13081956 - 15 Apr 2020

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3032

Abstract

Real-time estimation of three-dimensional field data for enclosed spaces is critical to HVAC control. This task is challenging, especially for large enclosed spaces with complex geometry, due to the nonuniform distribution and nonlinear variations of many environmental variables. Moreover, constructing and maintaining a network of sensors to fully cover the entire space is very costly, and insufficient sensor data might deteriorate system performance. Facing such a dilemma, gappy proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) offers a solution to provide three-dimensional field data with a limited number of sensor measurements. In this study, a gappy POD method for real-time reconstruction of contaminant distribution in an enclosed space is proposed by combining the POD method with a limited number of sensor measurements. To evaluate the gappy POD method, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is utilized to perform a numerical simulation to validate the effectiveness of the gappy POD method in reconstructing contaminant distributions. In addition, the optimal sensor placement is given based on a quantitative metric to maximize the reconstruction accuracy, and the sensor placement constraints are also considered during the sensor design process. The gappy POD method is found to yield accurate reconstruction results. Further works will include the implementation of real-time control based on the POD method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency and Indoor Environment Quality)

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30 pages, 3541 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Influence of Outdoor Particulate Matter PM_2.5 on Indoor Air Quality: The Implementation of a New Assessment Method

by Dominik Bekierski and Krystyna Barbara Kostyrko

Energies 2021, 14(19), 6230; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14196230 - 30 Sep 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3212

Abstract

Epidemiological research has shown that there is a positive correlation between the incidence of disease and mortality in humans and the mass concentration of particulate matter. An average 1 g of suspended dust emitted in a room results in the same exposure as 1 kg emitted to the outside air. In this study, the authors described the state of knowledge on dust pollution inside and outside buildings (I/O ratios), and methods of testing the PM infiltration process parameters. According to the law of indoor–outdoor particle mass balance and the physical basis of aerosol penetration theory, a relatively simple but new method for estimating the penetration factor P was tested. On the basis of the curve of dynamic changes of internal dust concentration in the process of particle concentration decay and next of the followed curve of dynamic rebound of particle concentration, authors measured penetration factor of ambient PM_2.5 through building envelope. Authors modification of the method is to be used for determining the value of the particle deposition rate k not from the course of the characteristics in the transient state (the so-called particle concentration decay curves) but from the concentration rebound course, stimulated by natural particle infiltration process. Recognition measurements of the mass concentration of suspended PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ particles inside the rooms were carried out. In this study, the choice of the prediction particle penetration factor P calculation method was supported by the exemplary calculation of the p value for a room polluted by PM_2.5. The preliminary results of the penetration factors determined by this method P = 0.61 are consistent with the P factor values from the literature obtained so far for this dimensional group of dusts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency and Indoor Environment Quality)

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20 pages, 1345 KiB

Open AccessReview

Energy Efficiency Evaluation Based on Data Envelopment Analysis: A Literature Review

by Tao Xu, Jianxin You, Hui Li and Luning Shao

Energies 2020, 13(14), 3548; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13143548 - 10 Jul 2020

Cited by 82 | Viewed by 6273

Abstract

The importance and urgency of energy efficiency in sustainable development are increasing. Accurate assessment of energy efficiency is of considerable significance and necessity. The data envelopment analysis (DEA) method has been widely used to study energy efficiency as a total factor efficiency assessment method. In order to summarize the latest research on DEA in the field of energy efficiency, this article first analyzes the overall situation of related literature published in 2011–2019. Subsequently, the definition, measurement and evaluation variables of energy efficiency are introduced. After that, this article reviews the current DEA model and its extension models and applications based on different scenarios. Finally, considering the shortcomings of the existing DEA model, possible future research topics are proposed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency and Indoor Environment Quality)

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