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Energy Efficiency in Building for Sustainability
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Energy Efficiency in Building for Sustainability

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Engineering and Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2021) | Viewed by 14512

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. José L. Vivancos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Engineering Projects, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
Interests: nearly zero energy buildings (NZEB); building energy modelling and simulation; data analysis; data mining
Dr. Carolina Aparicio-Fernández

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Architectural Constructions, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
Interests: simulation; buildings; energy demand; ventilation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Climate change and global warming are major concerns in modern-day society. It is widely studied climate change as having a major impact on energy demand for both heating and cooling in buildings, because of the changes in ambient outdoor conditions.

Energy demand reduction in buildings is a key international issue, both to decrease carbon emissions and to improve energy security. Space heating and air conditioning are responsible for the largest energy demand in cold and hot climates, respectively.

Efforts have been made to reduce the energy demand of buildings. Energy strategies have emerged, building energy certifications and the implemention of energy audits in order to apply energy saving measures.

The Special Issue "Energy Efficiency in Building for Sustainability” aims to gather high-quality papers addressing the above-mentioned topics with a particular interest in (although not limited to) Energy Demand, Energy Management, Energy-efficient Buildings, Simulation Building Model, Modelling and Simulation, Buildings Monitoring, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) and Air Infiltration.

Dr. José L. Vivancos
Dr. Carolina Aparicio-Fernández
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. Sustainability 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 2400 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

  • energy efficiency
  • energy demand
  • energy management
  • energy utilization
  • energy performance
  • energy-efficient buildings
  • building solutions
  • heat transfer
  • thermal behaviors
  • simulation building model
  • modelling and simulation
  • monitoring
  • ventilation
  • air infiltration
  • climate change scenarios

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 6774 KiB  
Article
Building Optimization through a Parametric Design Platform: Using Sensitivity Analysis to Improve a Radial-Based Algorithm Performance
by Nayara R. M. Sakiyama, Joyce C. Carlo, Leonardo Mazzaferro and Harald Garrecht
Sustainability 2021, 13(10), 5739; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13105739 - 20 May 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3532
Abstract
Performance-based design using computational and parametric optimization is an effective strategy to solve the multiobjective problems typical of building design. In this sense, this study investigates the developing process of parametric modeling and optimization of a naturally ventilated house located in a region [...] Read more.
Performance-based design using computational and parametric optimization is an effective strategy to solve the multiobjective problems typical of building design. In this sense, this study investigates the developing process of parametric modeling and optimization of a naturally ventilated house located in a region with well-defined seasons. Its purpose is to improve its thermal comfort during the cooling period by maximizing Natural Ventilation Effectiveness (NVE) and diminishing annual building energy demand, namely Total Cooling Loads (TCL) and Total Heating Loads (THL). Following a structured workflow, divided into (i) model setting, (ii) Sensitivity Analyses (SA), and (iii) Multiobjective Optimization (MOO), the process is straightforwardly implemented through a 3D parametric modeling platform. After building set up, the input variables number is firstly reduced with SA, and the last step runs with an innovative model-based optimization algorithm (RBFOpt), particularly appropriate for time-intensive performance simulations. The impact of design variables on the three-performance metrics is comprehensively discussed, with a direct relationship between NVE and TCL. MOO results indicate a great potential for natural ventilation and heating energy savings for the residential building set as a reference, showing an improvement between 14–87% and 26–34% for NVE and THL, respectively. The approach meets the current environmental demands related to reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions, which include passive design implementations, such as natural or hybrid ventilation. Moreover, the design solutions and building orientation, window-to-wall ratio, and envelope properties could be used as guidance in similar typologies and climates. Finally, the adopted framework configures a practical and replicable approach for studies aiming to develop high-performance buildings through MOO. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency in Building for Sustainability)
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15 pages, 1975 KiB  
Article
Opaque Ventilated Façade (OVF) Thermal Performance Simulation for Office Buildings in Brazil
by Camila Gregório-Atem, Carolina Aparicio-Fernández, Helena Coch and José-Luis Vivancos
Sustainability 2020, 12(18), 7635; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12187635 - 16 Sep 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3026
Abstract
Opaque ventilated façades (OVFs) are increasingly gaining in importance in the design of sustainable buildings, given that they can lessen the building´s environmental impact. Opaque ventilated façades can reduce thermal gains in hot climate zones, improving the thermal comfort indoors, and reducing air [...] Read more.
Opaque ventilated façades (OVFs) are increasingly gaining in importance in the design of sustainable buildings, given that they can lessen the building´s environmental impact. Opaque ventilated façades can reduce thermal gains in hot climate zones, improving the thermal comfort indoors, and reducing air conditioning demand. Nevertheless, the thermal behaviour of the opaque ventilated façade depends on the climatic conditions and the building´s specific design. This study analyses the effect of opaque ventilated façades in office buildings using 30 constructive configurations under eight tropical climate conditions. The study considers three options for the external layer of cladding (ceramic, stone, and aluminium composite material) and two configurations for the inner layer (plasterboard with mineral wool and ceramic). Simulations were carried out using the software tools TRanNsient SYstem Simulation program (TRNSYS) and TRNFlow. The model developed considers bioclimatic characteristics, including solar radiation and wind conditions for each climatic zone. The operating temperature was selected from within the range established by occupant comfort regulations. The findings suggest that it is possible to select the best office building opaque ventilated façade configuration for each of the specific climate conditions in Brazil. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency in Building for Sustainability)
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25 pages, 6190 KiB  
Article
Development of Spatial Distribution Maps for Energy Demand and Thermal Comfort Estimation in Algeria
by Samir Semahi, Mohammed Amin Benbouras, Waqas Ahmed Mahar, Noureddine Zemmouri and Shady Attia
Sustainability 2020, 12(15), 6066; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12156066 - 28 Jul 2020
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4989
Abstract
Climatic spatial maps are essential for understanding the thermal conditions of cities and estimate their cooling and heating energy needs. Climate maps allow building designers and city planners to get adequately informed without accessing, analyzing or interpreting dense textual information. In this study, [...] Read more.
Climatic spatial maps are essential for understanding the thermal conditions of cities and estimate their cooling and heating energy needs. Climate maps allow building designers and city planners to get adequately informed without accessing, analyzing or interpreting dense textual information. In this study, a representative residential benchmark model was simulated in seventy-four cities of Algeria. The simulation results were interpolated using geographic information systems to generate six high-resolution maps that spatially estimate and visualize the discomfort hours and cooling/heating energy needs. The unique methodology relies on a reliable weather dataset (2004–2018) and combines the power of building performance simulation and geographic information systems. The results of these analyses provide easy to understand and web-based atlas that can be used to explore regional and local climate and quantify the discomfort hours, the heating/cooling energy needs and energy use intensity. The spatial maps are not a static product, but rather data-rich content, which can be expanded to include the most important cities of Algeria. The capabilities of the tool allow architects and urban planners to understand the climate better and propose practical design guidance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency in Building for Sustainability)
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23 pages, 4313 KiB  
Article
Analysis of the Impact of Different Variables on the Energy Demand in Office Buildings
by José Luis Fuentes-Bargues, José-Luis Vivancos, Pablo Ferrer-Gisbert and Miguel Ángel Gimeno-Guillem
Sustainability 2020, 12(13), 5347; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12135347 - 1 Jul 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2407
Abstract
The design of near zero energy offices is a priority, which involves looking to achieve designs which minimise energy consumption and balance energy requirements with an increase in the installation and consumption of renewable energy. In light of this, some authors have used [...] Read more.
The design of near zero energy offices is a priority, which involves looking to achieve designs which minimise energy consumption and balance energy requirements with an increase in the installation and consumption of renewable energy. In light of this, some authors have used computer software to achieve simulations of the energy behaviour of buildings. Other studies based on regulatory systems which classify and label energy use also generally make their assessments through the use of software. In Spain, there is an authorised procedure for certifying the energy performance of buildings, and software (LIDER-CALENER unified tool) which is used to demonstrate compliance of the performance of buildings both from the point of view of energy demand and energy consumption. The aim of this study is to analyse the energy behaviour of an office building and the variability of the same using the software in terms of the following variables: climate zone, building orientation and certain surrounding wall types and encasements typical of this type of construction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency in Building for Sustainability)
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