Nowadays, radiant ceiling systems can be considered among the technologies capable of meeting sustainable heating and cooling requirements. In order to adequately address design and simulation issues concerning these systems, correct evaluation of the heat transfer process is needed. The aim of this research is to present further evidence on the cooling capacity and heat transfer coefficients for a cooled radiant ceiling, assuring adequate thermal comfort levels in those possible different operation conditions. An experimental setup into a climate test room was developed and used to derive convenient results. The obtained values revealed that heat transfer evaluations on the basis of operative temperature as the unique reference temperature and corresponding total coefficient are not appropriate in real situations, but considering radiant and convective phenomena separately is strongly recommended.

This paper develops an energy analysis for an existing near Zero Energy (nZEB) and Zero Carbon Emissions building called LUCIA, located at the university campus in Valladolid (Spain). It is designed to supply electricity, cooling and heating needs through solar energy (Photovoltaic Systems, PV), biomass and an Earth-Air Heat Exchanger (EAHE), besides a Combined Heat Power (CHP). It is currently among the top three buildings with the highest LEED certification in the World. The building model is simulated with DesignBuilder version 5. The results of the energy analysis illustrate the heating, cooling and lighting consumptions expected, besides other demands and energy uses. From this data, we carried out an energy balance of the nZEB, which will help to plan preventive actions when compared to the actual energy consumptions, improving the management and control of both the building and its systems. The primary energy indicator obtained is 67 kWh/m 2 a year, and 121 kWh/m 2 a year for renewable energy generation, with respect to 55 kWh/m 2 and 45 kWh/m 2 set as reference in Europe. The Renewable Energy Ratio (RER) is 0.66. These indicators become a useful tool for the energy analysis of the nZEB according to the requirements in the European regulations and for its comparison with further nZEB.

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A review on climate parameters affecting applicability of passive and low energy heating and cooling techniques is presented. The study has been developed from existing research work results, and aims to serve as a first-stage assessment tool of the viability of these solutions at a particular location, depending on outdoor conditions to be faced. This contribution starts with a justification of comprehensive climate analysis as the first step to evaluate whether a specific passive or low energy solution would be efficient, or on the contrary, it would incur in higher energy consumption. Comfort requirements indoors as well as building typology and use are then briefly tackled as they would determine actual applicability. It continues gathering the weather variables affecting passive solar, natural ventilation, free cooling and evaporative cooling technologies. Key climatic information is provided for the city of Valladolid (Spain), as an example. Finally it ends with an overview of existing tools for representing climate information in bioclimatic design. Thus, the main target of this paper is to serve as a guide for an adequate preselection of the optimal passive energy solutions in buildings at a specific site, from existing research on climate analysis.

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