Research

27 pages, 6322 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigations of Building-Related LCC Sensitivity of a Cost-Effective Renovation Package by One-at-a-Time and Monte Carlo Parameter Variation Methods

by Yovko Ivanov Antonov, Kim Trangbæk Jønsson, Per Heiselberg and Michal Zbigniew Pomianowski

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(19), 9817; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12199817 - 29 Sep 2022

Viewed by 1233

Abstract

Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) is becoming a standard for new and renovated buildings throughout the European Union (EU). Through the ongoing implementation of directives related to energy efficiency and NZEB-compliant buildings, the EU commission has established that new and renovated NZEB-compliant buildings [...] Read more.

Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) is becoming a standard for new and renovated buildings throughout the European Union (EU). Through the ongoing implementation of directives related to energy efficiency and NZEB-compliant buildings, the EU commission has established that new and renovated NZEB-compliant buildings shall be implemented cost-effectively. This is assessed by linking the Life Cycle Cost (LCC) and energy demand calculations, representing them in a cost-optimality plot, and finding the optimal solution from the resulting Pareto front. Given that the results of an LCC calculation are quite dependent on the calculation model’s scope and inputs, this study takes an explorative approach to determine the most influential parameters in LCC calculations for a pre-selected cost-effective package. This is achieved by varying the inputs using local and global variation methods. The local variation approach consists of varying the inputs one-at-a-time (OAT), whereas with global variation, all the selected inputs are variated simultaneously. The OAT approach identified the amount and unit cost of the utility supply (district heating, electricity, and gas) as the most influential parameters to the output. The OAT results were further used to rank the next five most sensitive parameters and perform a global sensitivity analysis using Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. A regression analysis of the MC results revealed high R2 values (≥0.98), suggesting a linear correlation between the output and the variable inputs. The sensitivity analysis determined the unit price of attic insulation, the gas price, and the lifetime of the Heat Pump (HP) as the most sensitive parameters in the three investigated models. Full article

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

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17 pages, 1607 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identification of Reference Buildings in Mediterranean Countries: The HAPPEN Project Approach

by Manuel Rosales, Chrysanthi Efthymiou, Nikolaos Barmparesos, Panagiotis Tasios, José Manuel Salmerón Lissén and Margarita Niki Assimakopoulos

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(11), 5638; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12115638 - 01 Jun 2022

Viewed by 1296

Abstract

This study’s scope is to collect and analyze all the needed information related to the residential building stocks in Mediterranean countries, especially those that participated in the framework of the HAPPEN project (Greece, Croatia, Cyprus, Italy, Slovenia, Spain, and France). A specific procedure [...] Read more.

This study’s scope is to collect and analyze all the needed information related to the residential building stocks in Mediterranean countries, especially those that participated in the framework of the HAPPEN project (Greece, Croatia, Cyprus, Italy, Slovenia, Spain, and France). A specific procedure was followed in order to conduct a coordinated evaluation of the residential building stock. The most important variables for a statistical examination of the building stock are outlined, as well as an approach for establishing reference buildings. National data for the seven participating nations were collected and evaluated using the prescribed methodology. The research findings identify six distinct reference buildings in each nation. More specifically, the most representative buildings were distinguished through a cross-country comparison of the obtained data, after classifying the buildings into different classes to which the same approach for deep renovation/refurbishment can be applied. Full article

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

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23 pages, 3542 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Potential of Energy Savings in the Public Housing Stock of Comunitat Valenciana Region by Applying the MedZEB Cost-Optimal Methodology

by Cristina Isabel Jareño Escudero, Miriam Navarro Escudero, César Damián Mifsut García, María Flores Fillol and José Manuel Salmerón Lissen

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(1), 138; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12010138 - 23 Dec 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1921

Abstract

Improving energy efficiency in buildings has a key role to play in achieving the ambitious goal of EU-wide climate neutrality by 2050, set out in the European Green Deal. This paper describes a cost-optimal analysis of residential buildings of Valencian Community, Spain. Thus, [...] Read more.

Improving energy efficiency in buildings has a key role to play in achieving the ambitious goal of EU-wide climate neutrality by 2050, set out in the European Green Deal. This paper describes a cost-optimal analysis of residential buildings of Valencian Community, Spain. Thus, an assessment of the contribution of total primary energy savings per year (MW/h) of the social dwellings managed by EVha, Entitat Valenciana d’Habitatge i Sòl (eng. Valencian entity for dwelling and ground) towards the national contribution is presented in this paper. To assess it, the MedZEB cost-optimal methodology has been applied to optimise the performance of the building’s envelope. This means that Optimal Renovation Strategies through Life-Cycle Analysis have been applied to obtain the Packages of Optimal Solutions of the different reference buildings in a reference climate. First, the renovation scenario with 100% of the building stock being renovated has been calculated. Then, the renovation scenario of 1%, being the current European rate of renovation and, finally the renovation scenario of 2%, given that the objective of the Renovation Wave is to at least double the annual energy renovation rate of residential and non-residential buildings by 2030 and to foster deep energy renovations. Full article

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

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24 pages, 3204 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Holistic Impact and Environmental Efficiency of Retrofitting Interventions on Buildings in the Mediterranean Area: A Directional Distance Function Approach

by Monica Cariola, Greta Falavigna and Francesca Picenni

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(22), 10794; https://doi.org/10.3390/app112210794 - 15 Nov 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1606

Abstract

The study focuses on the application of a nonparametric methodology for evaluating the sustainability of retrofitting interventions to be applied on different typologies of buildings and different climate zones of the Mediterranean area. The paper starts from the analysis of data collected through [...] Read more.

The study focuses on the application of a nonparametric methodology for evaluating the sustainability of retrofitting interventions to be applied on different typologies of buildings and different climate zones of the Mediterranean area. The paper starts from the analysis of data collected through the HAPPEN project, that is a H2020 European project which proposes a holistic approach for a deep and sustainable renovation of the Mediterranean residential Building stock. Even if the European Commission allocated considerable funds for retrofitting interventions, the choice of the optimal solution is not always that easy because several variables have to be considered. The present manuscript proposes a methodology to compare different retrofitting solutions combining Life-Cycle Cost (i.e., LCC) estimations with the nonparametric Directional Distance Function approach (i.e., DDF). In detail, the literature suggests that the DDF can be effectively used for comparing different observations through efficiency scores. The main result of the paper is the definition of a hybrid methodology that, starting from estimates of LCC and applying a DDF technique, represents a simple method for evaluating the best retrofitting intervention. Results are represented by two scores where the former represents a holistic efficiency measure, while the latter shows an environmental efficiency score. Full article

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

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17 pages, 4888 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Indoor Environmental Quality Evaluation Strategy as an Upgrade (Renovation) Measure in a Historic Building Located in the Mediterranean Zone (Athens, Greece)

by Chrysanthi Efthymiou, Nikolaos Barmparesos, Panagiotis Tasios, Vasileios Ntouros, Vasileios Zoulis, Theoni Karlessi, José Manuel Salmerón Lissén and Margarita Niki Assimakopoulos

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(21), 10133; https://doi.org/10.3390/app112110133 - 28 Oct 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1731

Abstract

The assessment of indoor environmental quality in historic buildings converted to museums is a significant tool in deep energy renovation processes, as it provides insights for the microclimatic conditions in the interiors of the building where vast numbers of visitors walk every year [...] Read more.

The assessment of indoor environmental quality in historic buildings converted to museums is a significant tool in deep energy renovation processes, as it provides insights for the microclimatic conditions in the interiors of the building where vast numbers of visitors walk every year and where artifacts that are vulnerable to pollution are exhibited. In this work, aiming to contribute to the development of an energy retrofitting protocol applied in the Mediterranean region (HAPPEN MedZeb protocol) for museums hosted in historic buildings by providing useful data, an experimental campaign to evaluate the indoor environmental quality of a museum housed in a historic building located in Athens took place from February 2019 to April 2021 and was divided into two periods. The findings revealed high concentrations of volatile organic compounds as well as poor thermal comfort levels since the sensors recorded low acceptable percentages of T values within the limits from 7 to 33% for the entire experimental period. Based on the findings, recommendations for retrofitting interventions are made. Full article

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

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13 pages, 3117 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Theoretical Study on the Relationship of Building Thermal Insulation with Indoor Thermal Comfort Based on APMV Index and Energy Consumption of Rural Residential Buildings

by Jinzhe Nie, Yuxin Pang, Congcong Wang, Han Zhang and Kuichao Yin

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(18), 8565; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11188565 - 15 Sep 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2091

Abstract

In the field investigation of rural dwellings, it was found that thermal feelings are significantly different with varied envelopes even under the same indoor air temperature, and this paper explores the phenomenon in simulation. Based on building thermal investigations in several villages of [...] Read more.

In the field investigation of rural dwellings, it was found that thermal feelings are significantly different with varied envelopes even under the same indoor air temperature, and this paper explores the phenomenon in simulation. Based on building thermal investigations in several villages of North China, a typical energy and environment simulation model for rural residences was developed using DeST, and the hourly parameters of temperature and humidity were used to calculate the adaptive thermal comfort (APMV) of the rooms. The results show that the main reason for the different thermal comfort at the same air temperature is the large difference in the inner surface temperature. By adjusting the insulation thickness of the envelope structure, the relationship between it and the APMV value is obtained. By adjusting the insulation thickness of the enclosure structure and getting the correlation between it and the APMV value, it is obtained that when the heat transfer coefficient of the enclosure structure meets 0.5 W/(m²·K), the indoors can be in thermal comfort. This paper considers that the indoor air temperature cannot represent the APMV to evaluate the indoor thermal comfort, and the APMV value should be used to evaluate the thermal comfort of the renovated building and calculate the corresponding energy saving rate. Full article

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

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30 pages, 4036 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Novel Methodology toward Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) Renovation: Cost-Effective Balance Approach as a Pre-Step to Cost-Optimal Life Cycle Cost Assessment

by Yovko Ivanov Antonov, Per Kvols Heiselberg and Michal Zbigniew Pomianowski

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(9), 4141; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11094141 - 30 Apr 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2636

Abstract

Reaching environmental targets set by the European Union (EU) requires a constant renovation of the existing building stock to nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) in a cost-optimal manner. Studies show that the renovation rate of the existing building stock is more than two [...] Read more.

Reaching environmental targets set by the European Union (EU) requires a constant renovation of the existing building stock to nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) in a cost-optimal manner. Studies show that the renovation rate of the existing building stock is more than two times less than what is necessary to reach the targets. Furthermore, the majority of performed renovations across the EU reach just a small amount of energy savings, whereas NZEB renovations are rarely achieved. This paper proposes a methodology for the evaluation of renovation measures, aiming to provide decision support related to the selection of what to renovate and to what extent. The proposed method is rooted in the well-established cost-optimal methodology, yet it suggests a pre-step to package evaluation. This is done by means of a simplified cost-effective parameter (CEP), linking cost, lifetime, and energy savings. The methodology is demonstrated using a case study building in Denmark. The results show that the CEP provides good grounds for the compilation of single actions to packages. Further developments could focus on the sensitivity of the model inputs and integration of additional evaluation parameters to cost, such as environmental, architectural, comfort, risk, etc. Full article

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

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16 pages, 1635 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Life Cycle Assessment of an Innovative Hybrid Energy Storage System for Residential Buildings in Continental Climates

by Noelia Llantoy, Gabriel Zsembinszki, Valeria Palomba, Andrea Frazzica, Mattia Dallapiccola, Federico Trentin and Luisa F. Cabeza

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(9), 3820; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11093820 - 23 Apr 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3062

Abstract

With the aim of contributing to achieving the decarbonization of the energy sector, the environmental impact of an innovative system to produce heating and domestic hot water for heating demand-dominated climates is assessed is evaluated. The evaluation is conducted using the life cycle [...] Read more.

With the aim of contributing to achieving the decarbonization of the energy sector, the environmental impact of an innovative system to produce heating and domestic hot water for heating demand-dominated climates is assessed is evaluated. The evaluation is conducted using the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology and the ReCiPe and IPCC GWP indicators for the manufacturing and operation stages, and comparing the system to a reference one. Results show that the innovative system has a lower overall impact than the reference one. Moreover, a parametric study to evaluate the impact of the refrigerant is carried out, showing that the impact of the overall systems is not affected if the amount of refrigerant or the impact of refrigerant is increased. Full article

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

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