Basic actions to improve energy efficiency in commercial buildings in operation

Numerous studies have focused on improving energy efficiency in commercial buildings. Engineers and researchers have developed complex methods to improve energy efficiency, but buildings are often managed by non-specialised technicians who need understandable and cost-effective actions to implement in their buildings. This paper presents basic actions on which to base improvements in energy efficiency in commercial buildings in operation. Furthermore, obtained results and details of the implementation of these techniques in various buildings in the Universitat Politècnica de València are presented.     

Investigation of energy performance of newly built low-energy buildings in Sweden

Energy use in the built environment represents a large part of total energy use in Sweden and is one important sector where energy conservation needs to be significantly improved in order to meet the national implementation of the European goals. One key question that needs to be investigated in relation to these goals is the performance and implementation of passive or low-energy houses. This paper presents results and an evaluation of a newly built house in an area with passive houses in Linköping, Sweden. Nine passive houses were built with the aim to be energy efficient, with an annual space heating demand of 21 kWh/m², and at the same time to have the same visual appearance as any other building in the surrounding area.This study evaluates the energy performance of a residential area with low-energy buildings based on Building Energy Simulation (BES) (IDA ICE 4), and measurements from the real object. Both annual and hourly validation is performed using room by room modeling and internal heat gains. A novel approach to internal heat gain modeling is presented using time-use data (TUD). The results show possible improvements in the design, the building envelope and in the heating control.     

因需而型,应需为变——豫西南地区村镇住宅优化设计研究

研究豫西南农村的住宅设计模式,借助计算机数字化分析,探讨投入低、舒适度高的村镇住宅设计思路,并提出该因需而型,应需为变的优化设计策略。     

Study of the geometry of a voided clay brick using non-rectangular perforations to optimise its thermal properties

This study seeks to improve the geometrical distribution of bricks to optimise the equivalent thermal transmittance of a wall built of Termoarcilla^® ECO 29 voided clay bricks, using calculations according to Spanish UNE [1], AENOR [10], European EN [6], [7], [8] and [9] and international ISO [11] and [12] standards.The objective is to study improvements in the wall's thermal conductivity, always remembering the limitations imposed by the manufacturing process. Simulations are made using a finite elements application [14].It is concluded that, within the possibilities allowed by the manufacturing process, with non-rectangular voids the heat flux has to cross a higher number of voids, which improves its thermal properties. A rhomboid layout of voids with the longer diagonal at right angles to the heat flux is the best internal void layout. If the internal perforations are also extended to the end of the tongue and groove, the direct thermal bridge in this type of brick is broken.Finally, a 290 mm wide brick with 25 rows is obtained with the geometrical properties described above which shows an improvement of almost 16% over the original ECO 29 brick, performing well in all climatic areas of Spain, with a full-bed mortar joint 30 mm thick.     

The cognitive differentiation-integration effort hypothesis: A synthesis between the fitness indicator and life history models of human intelligence.

This article presents a potential synthesis between the fitness indicator and life history models of human intelligence through consideration of the phenomena of ability differentiation and integration. The cognitive differentiation-integration effort hypothesis proposes that these effects result from a life history tradeoff between cognitive integration effort, a mating effort component associated with strengthening the positive manifold amongst abilities; and cognitive differentiation effort, a somatic effort component associated with the cultivation of specific abilities. This represents one of two largely independent sources of genetic variance in intelligence; the other is mediated by general fitness and mutation load and is associated with individual differences in levels of 'genetic g'. These two sources (along with a common source of environmental variance) combine to give rise to a variety of cognitive phenotypes characterized by different combinations of high or low levels of 'genetic g' and cognitive specialism or generalism. Fundamental to this model is the assumption that measures of life history speed (K) and g are essentially independent, which is demonstrated via meta-analysis of 10 studies reporting correlations between the variables (ρ = .023, ns, n = 2056). The implications of the model are discussed in an evolutionary, ecological, and developmental context. Seven key predictions are made in the discussion which if tested could provide definitive evidence for the hypothesis. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

华蟾素注射液对人肝癌HepG-2细胞增殖及周期的影响

Objective: The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of Cinobufacini injection on the proliferation and cell cycle of human hepatoma HepG-2 cells. Methods: Cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay, cell cycle distributionwas detected by the flow cytometry (FCM). The expression of Cyclin A, CDK2 mRNA levels were examined by RT-PCR.Quantitative colorimetric assay was used to analyze Cyclin NCDK2 activity in HepG-2 cells. Results: Cinobufacini injection significantly inhibited HepG-2 cells proliferation in dose- and time-dependent ways; FCM analysis showed Cinobufacini injection induced cell cycle arrest at S phase; RT-PCR assay showed Cinobufacini injection down-regulated Cyclin A, CDK2expression at mRNA levels; Quantitative colorimetric assay showed Cinobufacini injection deceased Cyclin A/CDK2 activity in HepG-2 cells. Conclusion: Cinobufacini injection can inhibit human hepatoma HepG-2 cells growth, induce cell apoptosis and induce cell cycle arrest at S phase, the mechanism of which might be partly related to the down-regulation of Cyclin A,CDK2 mRNA expression and inhibition of Cyclin A/CDK2 activity.     

Uncertainty in airflow rate calculations due to the use of surface-averaged pressure coefficients

Mean wind pressure coefficients (C_p) are key input parameters for air infiltration and ventilation studies. However, building energy simulation and stand-alone airflow network programs usually only provide and/or use a limited amount of C_p data, which are based on several assumptions. An important assumption consists of using surface-averaged C_p values instead of local C_p values with a high resolution in space. This paper provides information on the uncertainty in the calculated airflow rate due to the use of surface-averaged C_p data. The study is performed using published empirical data on pressure coefficients obtained from extensive wind tunnel experiments. The uncertainty is assessed based on the comparison of the airflow rate (?) calculated using the surface-averaged C_p values (?_AV) and the airflow rate calculated using local C_p values (?_LOC). The results indicate that the uncertainty with a confidence interval of 95% is high: 0.23 ?_AV < ?_LOC < 5.07 ?_AV. In cases with the largest surface-averaged ΔC_p, the underestimation or overestimation is smaller but not negligible: 0.52 ?_AV < ?_LOC < 1.42 ?_AV. These results provide boundaries for future improvements in C_p data quality, and new developments can be evaluated by comparison with the uncertainty of the current methods.     

浅谈我国绿色建筑几点现状问题及发展策略

通过对我国现阶段绿色建筑建设现状几点问题的审慎、严谨、细致的科学分析,提出符合我国文化背景和社会现状的绿色建筑发展策略,以期促进我国绿色建筑的推广应用。     

电动自行车铅蓄电池的研究

密封铅蓄电池的技术进步,促进了电动自行车的发展。通过对电动自行车蓄电池板栅合金成分和板栅结构设计、铅膏成分和视密度以及固化、化成等过程的分析,优选了更佳的综合参数,开发的电动自行车铅蓄电池基本满足电动自行车的需要。