A major issue in modelling the electrical load of residential building is reproducing the variability between dwellings due to the stochastic use of different electrical equipment. In that sense and with the objective to reproduce this variability, a stochastic model to obtain load profiles of household electricity is developed. The model is based on a probabilistic approach and is developed using data from the Mediterranean region of Spain. A detailed validation of the model has been done, analysing and comparing the results with Spanish and European data. The results of the validation show that the model is able to reproduce the most important features of the residential electrical consumption, especially the particularities of the Mediterranean countries. The final part of the paper is focused on the potential applications of the models, and some examples are proposed. The model is useful to simulate a cluster of buildings or individual households. The model allows obtaining synthetic profiles representing the most important characteristics of the mean dwelling, by means of a stochastic approach. The inputs of the proposed model are adapted to energy labelling information of the electric devices. An example case is presented considering a dwelling with high performance equipment.

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This work has as objective to study the influence of mixing hour in the concrete properties such as workability and compressive strength in hot and cold weather conditions from an industrially applied point of view. The foremost studied variable was the concrete mixing hour, having used five mixing hours for every weather conditions. For each mixing hour, were carried out three concrete batches and 15 cylindrical concrete specimens were made for measuring compressive strength at 7 and 28 days. Besides, for each concrete batch the hydration kinetics was studied depending on the climatic situation and mixing hour. In the results regarding compressive strength, the best mechanical performances presented by the concrete correspond to the situation when the minimum difference between ambient temperature and concrete temperature exists; that is at later hours of the day for hot weather conditions.

This research focuses on designing and characterizing steel-fibre-reinforced self-compacting concrete using recycled aggregates (SFR-SCC-RA). Six different concrete dosages have been designed, and two extensive mechanical and physical characterization programs have been conducted. The first program was developed in a concrete production plant to verify the compatibility of the new material with the existing production systems. The second program was developed in a laboratory under controlled temperature and humidity conditions. Although compressive strengths greater than 25 N/mm2 have been reached (which allows the material to be classified as structural), the design in this initial phase is oriented to applications with limited mechanical requirements (e.g., foundations, earth retaining walls and pavements, in which design forces are moderate).Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

This paper presents a detailed method to develop cost-optimal studies for the energy renovation of residential buildings. A realistic characterization of the building has been introduced, using measurement and survey data. The method allows improving the interaction between the occupancy and the building, and the characterization of the real state of the construction. In addition, the building simulation includes vernacular strategies of the Mediterranean regions, as for example the natural ventilation and the use of solar protection.The method presented takes part of an innovative approach: two-step optimization considering thermal comfort, energy and economic criteria. The passive optimization, the first part, is the focus of the paper and evaluates the passive measures from an economic and thermal comfort point of view. This method prioritizes the passive measures rather than the active ones, guaranteeing the thermal comfort of the users in all cases.The paper shows the results of a multi-family building built in the years 1990-2007 and located in two climates C2 and B3 (Barcelona and Tarragona). The method provides technical and economic information about a set of passive energy efficiency measures, with the objective to help to make decisions to the experts, politicians and users.