The impact of energy externalities on the cost effectiveness of energy efficiency measures applied to dwellings

European Union and UK energy policy recognise the potential contribution the domestic housing sector can make in reducing energy consumption. In the UK, improvements to existing dwellings are likely to play a critical role in realising such potential. The need to consider both the value and uncertainty of external environmental and social costs in developing effective policy is also made explicit.This analysis investigates the impact of such values and uncertainties on the relative performance of a range of insulation measures applied retrospectively to an existing residential dwelling.Results from a case study suggest that large variations in capital cost, energy saving potential and the value of externalities have a significant impact on the relative cost effectiveness of these measures. However, in general, current investment decision-making based on normal market energy prices and today's climate is likely to deliver solutions that remain effective under significant levels of uncertainty.     

Evaluating the potential impact of global warming on the UAE residential buildings – A contribution to reduce the CO2 emissions

There is significant evidence that the world is warming. The International Panel of Climate Change stated that there would be a steady increase in the ambient temperature during the end of the 21st century. This increase will impact the built environment, particularly the requirements of energy used for air-conditioning buildings. This paper discusses issues related to the potential impact of global warming on air-conditioning energy use in the hot climate of the United Arab Emirates. Al-Ain city was chosen for this study. Simulation studies and energy analysis were employed to investigate the energy consumption of buildings and the most effective measures to cope with this impact under different climate scenarios. The paper focuses on residential buildings and concludes that global warming is likely to increase the energy used for cooling buildings by 23.5% if Al-Ain city warms by 5.9 °C. The net CO₂ emissions could increase at around 5.4% over the next few decades. The simulation results show that the energy design measures such as thermal insulation and thermal mass are important to cope with global warming, while window area and glazing system are beneficial and sensitive to climate change, whereas the shading devices are moderate as a building CO₂ emissions saver and insensitive to global warming.     

Climate change adaptation pathways for Australian residential buildings

Climate change can significantly impact on the total energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of residential buildings. Therefore, climate adaptation should be properly considered in both building design and operation stages to reduce the impact. This paper identified the potential adaptation pathways for existing and new residential buildings, by enhancing their adaptive capacity to accommodate the impact and maintain total energy consumption and GHG emissions no more than the current level in the period of their service life. The feasibility of adaptations was demonstrated by building energy simulations using both representative existing and new housing in eight climate zones varying from cold, temperate to hot humid in Australia. It was found that, in heating dominated climates, a proper level of adaptive capacity of residential buildings could be achieved simply by improving the energy efficiency of building envelop. However, in cooling dominated regions, it could only be achieved by introducing additional measures, such as the use of high energy efficient (EE) appliances and the adoption of renewable energy. The initial costs to implement the adaptations were assessed, suggesting that it is more cost-effective to accommodate future climate change impacts for existing and new houses by improving building envelop energy efficiency in cooling dominated regions, but installing on-site solar PVs instead in heating and cooling balanced regions.     

Effectiveness of passive measures against climate change: Case studies in Central Italy

This paper focuses on the effectiveness of passive adaptation measures against climate change, in the medium (2036–2065) and long term (2066–2095), for three case studies located in Florence (central Italy). In order to identify and highlight the passive measures which can provide comfort conditions with the lowest net heating and cooling energy demand, the input assumptions consider a constant thermal comfort level and don’t take into account either the effect of HVAC system’s performance and the degradation of the materials by ageing. The study results show that, in case of poorly insulated buildings, on the medium term, the reduction of energy needed for heating could be bigger than the increase for cooling, resulting in a total annual net energy need decrease, while in the long term the opposite happens. Conversely, considering a high level of thermal insulation, due to the large increase in cooling demand, the total annual energy need rises in both periods. Furthermore, attention should be paid to internal loads and solar gains that, due to the projected climate change, could become main contributors to the energy balance. In general, since the magnitude of energy need increase for cooling and decrease for heating is very significant on the long term, and varies in function of the type of building, the passive measure adopted and the level of thermal insulation, the research results lead to pay close attention to different types of energy refurbishment interventions, that should be selected in function of their effectiveness over time.     

A probabilistic analysis of the future potential of evaporative cooling systems in a temperate climate

The probabilistic projections of climate change for the United Kingdom (UK Climate Impacts Programme) show a trend towards hotter and drier summers. This suggests an expected increase in cooling demand for buildings – a conflicting requirement to reducing building energy needs and related CO₂ emissions. Though passive design is used to reduce thermal loads of a building, a supplementary cooling system is often necessary. For such mixed-mode strategies, indirect evaporative cooling is investigated as a low energy option in the context of a warmer and drier UK climate.Analysis of the climate projections shows an increase in wet-bulb depression; providing a good indication of the cooling potential of an evaporative cooler. Modelling a mixed-mode building at two different locations, showed such a building was capable of maintaining adequate thermal comfort in future probable climates. Comparing the control climate to the scenario climate, an increase in the median of evaporative cooling load is evident. The shift is greater for London than for Glasgow with a respective 71.6% and 3.3% increase in the median annual cooling load.The study shows evaporative cooling should continue to function as an effective low-energy cooling technique in future, warming climates.     

The sequestration switch: removing industrial CO2 by direct ocean absorption

This review paper considers direct injection of industrial CO2 emissions into the mid-water oceanic column below 500 m depth. Such a process is a potential candidate for switching atmospheric carbon emissions directly to long term sequestration, thereby relieving the intermediate atmospheric burden. Given sufficient research justification, the argument is that harmful impact in both the Atmosphere and the biologically rich upper marine layer could be reduced. The paper aims to estimate the role that active intervention, through direct ocean CO2 storage, could play and to outline further research and assessment for the strategy to be a viable option for climate change mitigation. The attractiveness of direct ocean injection lies in its bypassing of the Atmosphere and upper marine region, its relative permanence, its practicability using existing technologies and its quantification. The difficulties relate to the uncertainty of some fundamental scientific issues, such as plume dynamics, lowered pH of the exposed waters and associated ecological impact, the significant energy penalty associated with the necessary engineering plant and the uncertain costs. Moreover, there are considerable uncertainties regarding related international marine law. Development of the process would require acceptance of the evidence for climate change, strict requirements for large industrial consumers of fossil fuel to reduce CO2 emissions into the Atmosphere and scientific evidence for the overall beneficial impact of ocean sequestration.     

外墙保温对不同地区大型公共建筑冷热负荷的影响分析

随着我国建筑总量的增加,建筑能耗急剧上升,已成为我国的能耗黑洞,随之建筑节能逐渐被广大公民重视.目前建筑节能有很多措施,外墙保温就是其中一项.采用建筑热环境模拟工具DeST对同一大型公共建筑的冷热负行模拟计算,分析了在不同建筑气候分区下外墙的保温层厚度对空调负荷的影响,分析其有无节能效果,可为不同气候分区的大型公共建筑外墙隔热保温提供参考依据.     

Green roofs; building energy savings and the potential for retrofit

Green roofs are a passive cooling technique that stop incoming solar radiation from reaching the building structure below. Many studies have been conducted over the past 10 years to consider the potential building energy benefits of green roofs and shown that they can offer benefits in winter heating reduction as well as summer cooling.This paper reviews the current literature and highlights the situations in which the greatest building energy savings can be made. Older buildings with poor existing insulation are deemed to benefit most from a green roof as current building regulations require such high levels of insulation that green roofs are seen to hardly affect annual building energy consumption.As over half of the existing UK building stock was built before any roof insulation was required, it is older buildings that will benefit most from green roofs. The case for retrofitting existing buildings is therefore reviewed and it is found there is strong potential for green roof retrofit in the UK.     

Energy,environmental and economic optimization of thermal insulation solutions by means of an integrated decision support system

A new decision support system for the integrated assessment of thermal insulation solutions with emphasis on recycling potential is presented in this paper. The suggested system comprises three main assessment factors: primary energy consumption, the environmental impact and the financial cost; each and every factor is analytically assessed during the four distinct stages of a thermal insulation solution's life cycle. The calculation of the aforementioned factors takes place using analytical algorithms, formulated in such a way that have led to the development of the integrated, holistic decision-making support tool, namely ib3at. Using ib3at it becomes feasible to optimize the end-of-life management of thermal insulation solutions, but also to select, during the design phase of a new building, the optimal thermal insulation solution for each building element. The ib3at is applied for common thermal insulation practices, used widely in new constructions as well as in the renovation of existing buildings.     

The role of adaptive thermal comfort in the prediction of the thermal performance of a modern mixed-mode office building in the UK under climate change

Climate change is becoming a serious issue for the construction industry, since the time scales at which climate change takes place can be expected to show a true impact on the thermal performance of buildings and HVAC systems. In predicting this future building performance by means of building simulation, the underlying assumptions regarding thermal comfort conditions and the related heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) control set points become important. This article studies the thermal performance of a reference office building with mixed-mode ventilation in the UK, using static and adaptive thermal approaches, for a series of time horizons (2020, 2050 and 2080). Results demonstrate the importance of the implementation of adaptive thermal comfort models, and underpin the case for its use in climate change impact studies. Adaptive thermal comfort can also be used by building designers to make buildings more resilient towards change.     

双层玻璃夹帘窗的阻热原理及稳态传热实验研究

窗是围护结构保温隔热性能最弱的部分,对建筑的供暖空调能耗有极大的影响。从气候适应性角度讲,窗的保温隔热性能应随气候时节变动可调。双层玻璃窗由于有封闭空气间层存在,其保温隔热性能较单玻窗有相当程度的提高。然而,由于单层封闭空气间层热阻有限,若能在其中增加1层或多层可伸缩帘,形成多层封闭空气间层,则既可大大提高窗的热阻,又可使其保温隔热性能可调,实现窗的适时保温隔热和节能。本文在介绍夹帘阻热原理的基础上,设计构造了一种双层玻璃夹帘窗,并通过稳态传热实验考察了帘材料、帘层数、帘覆盖率对其传热系数可调性的影响。结果表明双层玻璃夹帘窗的传热系数可调:1)在帘材料相同的情况下,传热系数随帘层数和覆盖率的增加而减少;2)在帘层数和覆盖率相同的情况下,密实帘较透气帘传热系数小;3)对于密实帘而言,表面光滑辐射率低的较表面粗糙辐射率高的更能阻止热流通过。     

间歇供暖时不同保温结构外墙的动态热响应特性实验研究

为了研究间歇供暖时不同保温结构外墙的动态热响应特性的基理,搭建了动态测试实验建筑,在同一外墙上构建了6种保温结构墙体和一种烧结实心砖参照墙体,实验以4种典型间歇供暖模式、在相同室内外环境条件下对比测试了7种外墙的内表面温度及热流。供暖启动初期内保温结构外墙的内表面温度上升迅速且内表面热流值较低,表明这种保温结构外墙动态热响应特性远优于其他6种外墙。通过实验研究可得越靠近室内复合低蓄能材料的保温结构外墙在间歇供暖时动态热响应越快,达到舒适的室内热环境时间越短,建筑节能效果更好。     

锂离子动力电池用气凝胶隔热材料研究进展

近年来,新能源汽车行业发展迅猛。锂离子电池因其能量密度大、循环寿命长等优势成为应用最广泛的动力电池,但其在极端条件下存在热失控安全问题。气凝胶作为一种新型纳米多孔隔热材料,复合材料耐温可达1000℃以上,其凭借优异的隔热性能及轻质、防火、环保等特性,被逐渐应用于新能源汽车电池电芯隔热防火。本文介绍了锂离子电池热失控现象及热防护措施,常用的气凝胶隔热材料及其应用于锂电池中的性能优势,并与传统动力电池隔热材料进行对比,最后对其应用前景进行展望。     

The impact of thermal bridges on the energy demand of buildings with double brick wall constructions

The implementation of the European Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD) is a milestone towards the improvement of energy efficiency in the building sector. However, even in cases where impressive measures can be implemented in the densely built urban environment, the less glamorous measure of building's envelope thermal insulation remains a prerequisite towards the improvement of the building's energy efficiency. Despite the insulation requirements specified by national regulations, thermal bridges in the building's envelope remain a weak spot in the constructions. Moreover, in many countries construction practices tend to implement only partially the insulation measures foreseen by regulations. As a result, thermal losses are in practice greater than those predicted during the design stage. This paper presents a study on representative wall thermal insulation configurations used in Greek buildings, in order to investigate the impact of the thermal bridges on the energy consumption. The double wall construction, used widely in Greece and not only there, is rather susceptible to the occurrence of thermal bridges, in contrast to a typical thermal insulating façade, like the one applied in Central Europe. The analysis of the thermal bridges’ impact will in that sense also highlight the potential for energy renovation measures in older buildings.     

加气混凝土单一保温节能墙体体系的再议论

本文对加气混凝土单一保温节能墙体体系从我国不同气候区的使用、经济及技术方面进行了论述,得出了以下结论:加气混凝土制品作为单一保温节能墙体节能体系,运用不同密度和厚度的产品可以满足当前我国各个气候区规范对外墙的热工性能要求;与几种典型的外保温复合墙体相比,在近似墙厚和热工性能的前提下,无论社会效益还是经济效益,单一保温节能墙体体系优势明显;从生产技术、配套构件及有关产品标准等方面看,大力推广应用该节能墙体体系的条件已经成熟;同时该体系也存在一定的问题,如在严寒地区,特别是A区的应用虽有优势,但不能简单地仅靠增加墙厚来解决所有问题,还应补充其它措施.     

ECOTECT能耗模拟下既有住宅建筑围护结构节能改造的热环境分析研究

目前,既有住宅建筑节能改造主要有围护结构改造和供热计量改造两方面。围护结构节能改造主要包括:外墙节能改造、外窗节能改造、屋面节能改造等技术措施的研究;建筑物围护结构节能改造除了能够降低建筑能耗之外,对建筑物室内热环境也有很大影响。采用ECOTECT能耗模拟软件,对西安市某住宅建筑围护结构不同节能改造方案的热环境进行模拟,深入分析不同节能改造方案的能源消耗、不舒适度、围护结构得热、温度分布和热舒适度情况,以热舒适为前提、节能为目的选择最优的节能改造方案。为既有住宅建筑节能改造方案优选提供依据。     

Humidity control effect of vapor-permeable walls employing hygroscopic insulation material

Airtight construction and high-performance thermal insulation materials are commonly considered important building features to enhance indoor thermal comfort while reducing thermal load. However, when water vapor is generated in such airtight indoor spaces, it cannot be discharged to the outside, causing interstitial condensation and subsequent intrusion of moisture into the walls. Hygroscopic building materials such as cellulose fiber insulation (CFI), characterized by high water capacity, are a potential countermeasure against such condensation. In this study, the humidity control performance of external walls containing CFI was evaluated using data measured inside a demonstration house and calculated by numerical simulations based on thermodynamic chemical potential theory. The changes in moisture adsorption and desorption were then evaluated for different wall constructions and different climate conditions using a parameter sensitivity analysis. Finally, the effective application of CFI to prevent interstitial condensation was confirmed by comparing different wall compositions.     

Assessing the risk of climate change for buildings: A comparison between multi-year and probabilistic reference year simulations

Given a changing climate, there is a need to provide data for future years so that practicing engineers can investigate the impact of climate change on particular designs and examine any risk the client might be exposed to. In addition, such files are of use to building scientists in developing generic solutions to problems such as elevated internal temperatures and poor thermal comfort. With the release of the UK Climate Projections (UKCP09) [1], and the publication of a methodology for the creation of probabilistic future reference years using the UKCP09 weather generator [2], it is possible to model future building performance. However, the collapse of the distribution of possibilities inherent in the UKCP09 method into a single reference year or a small number of reference years, potentially means the loss of most of the information about the potential range of the response of the building and of the risk occupants might be subject to. In this paper we model for the first time the internal conditions and energy use of a building with all 3000 example years produced by the UKCP09 weather generator in an attempt to study the full range of response and risk. The resultant histograms and cumulative distribution functions are then used to examine whether single reference years can be used to answer questions about response and risk under a changing climate, or whether a more probabilistic approach is unavoidable.     

相变石膏板应用于外墙表面夏季隔热的相变温度分析

本文提出了将定形相变蓄能石膏板安装在轻质保温墙体外侧取代传统绝热材料,以改善围护结构夏季隔热性能的方法。以南京地区为例,采用Matlab编程比较了定形相变蓄能石膏板和膨胀型聚苯乙烯板在改善轻质围护结构隔热性能方面的差异,并利用焓法模型从相变温度角度对相变蓄能石膏板的使用效果进行了分析。研究结果表明,定形相变蓄能墙体在夏季可以改善建筑物外墙的隔热性能,减少通过围护结构传入室内的热量,相变温度为28℃的蓄能墙体能最大程度缓解夏季室内的空调冷负荷,起到节能效果。     

Energy simulation for a high-rise building using IDA ICE: Investigations in different climates

In this paper a model of a high-rise building is constructed in the simulation program IDA ICE. The model is based on an IFC-model of a demonstration building constructed in Ljubljana, Slovenia, as part of an EU-project, EE-high-rise. The model’s energy performance was simulated for four cities: Umeå (Scandinavia), Ljubljana (Central Europe), Sibenik (Mediterranean) and Dubai (The Persian Gulf). Furthermore, the climate envelope of the building was modified with the aim to improve the model’s energy performance in each of the regions. The results were evaluated according to the energy requirements of passive house standard by the German Passive House Institute. The analysis suggests that the reference building model, which itself incorporates several energy efficient components, was unable to meet the German passive house standard in none of the four cities (Umeå, Ljubljana, Sibenik and Dubai) studied. By providing a combination of energy saving measures, such as modifications of thermal resistance of building envelope, the building may be able to meet the passive house standard in Ljubljana. The analysis concludes that the reduction in window area results in reduction of both heating and cooling demand. Increase in the thickness of the insulation and the thermal resistance of windows reduces the space heating demand for Umeå, Ljubljana and Sibenik (not applied for Dubai) while increasing the cooling demand for these cities. Increased airtightness has marginal effect on heating and cooling demand for all investigated cities. Reduced thermal resistance of windows will decrease cooling demand for Ljubljana, Sibenik and Dubai (not applied for Umeå). Reduced insulation thickness (not applied for Umeå) will decrease cooling demand for Ljubljana and Sibenik but not for Dubai. Reducing the insulation thickness may often result in reduced cooling demand for moderately warm countries since the average outdoor temperature could be lower than the indoor temperature during part of the cooling season. In those situations a reduced insulation thickness can cause heat flow from the relatively hot inside to the colder outside. However, for hot climates like in Dubai where outdoor temperature is higher than the indoor temperature for most of the year, reducing the insulation thickness will increase the cooling demand. This result suggests that the insulation thickness must be chosen and optimized based on heating and cooling demand, internal heat gain, and outdoor climate