Buildings are responsible for several negative impacts on the environment, most of them related to nonrenewable energy consumption, increasing the concern regarding buildings energy efficiency. In this context, computer software has been used to estimate the energy needs of the built environment, and the Building Information Modelling (BIM) methodology can be used to simplify this process. This study aims to validate a BIM-based framework to streamline the energy analysis of Portuguese buildings, based on the method of the national regulation for the thermal performance of residential buildings. Currently, designers need to spend considerable time assessing all the building characteristics and performing the mandatory calculations for energy performance analysis. It is also intended to link the results of the energy simulation with a Building Sustainability Assessment method—SBToolPT-H. The purpose is to demonstrate how it is possible to benefit from this approach to simultaneously improve building sustainability during the design stage. To do so, different case studies were modelled in Autodesk Revit and exported to a BIM energy tool to perform energy simulation analysis. The results were validated against the official assessment method of the Portuguese thermal regulation and were successfully used to assess the SBToolPT-H energy efficiency category. The research outcomes provide design teams with a reliable BIM-based framework to improve building energy performance and to develop thermal projects while enhancing building sustainability. It also increases the knowledge about the integration of sustainability assessment in the BIM environment, providing new insights for complete integration.

Home storage is the final step of the frozen foods distribution chain, and little is known on how it affects the products quality. The present research describes frozen green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris, L.) quality retention profile during the recommended 'star marking' system dates, at the storage temperatures of þ 5, 26, 212 and 218 8C (along 1, 4, 14 and 60 days, respectively).The quality profile was assessed by a simulation system. Simulations were set by a response surface methodology to access the effect of different packaging materials (thermal conductivities and thickness), surface heat transfer coefficient, and refrigerator dynamics (effect of refrigeration cycles at the different storage temperatures) on the average retentions of Ascorbic Acid, total vitamin C, colour and flavour.Green beans quality losses along frozen storage are significantly influenced by temperature, refrigerator dynamics and kinetic properties. Quality is also highly dependent on packaging materials thermal insulation (e.g. at temperatures above the melting point). Temperature cycles inside frozen chambers have a long term effect, and at the higher storage temperatures (e.g. T . 26 8C) are detrimental to frozen green beans quality after shorter periods. Qualité des haricots surgelés: impact de la conservation chez le consommateur ainsi que les matériaux d'emballageMots-clés: Produit surgelé; Haricot vert; Modélisation; Transfert de Chaleur; Emballage; Durée de conservation; Réfrigérateur Domestique Green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris, L.) are among the most important vegetables produced in Portugal. They are generally harvested seasonally, and the outdoor varieties are excellent in nutritional value (high fibber content, starch and water soluble vitamins) and sensory parameters, such as colour, texture and flavour. Frozen green beans contribute to a well balanced diet all over the year, presenting nutritional advantages against human illness, and therefore, are important both in dietary and economical terms.Frozen storage is well known for its excellence in preserving nutritional and sensory quality. Nevertheless, significant nutritional and sensory losses do occur at low temperatures. Isothermal storage of green beans, at the

The correct specification of glazings for façades can reduce the energy consumption in buildings. The heat exchange occurs through transparent surfaces and radiation reaches the building as light and heat. Therefore, glazings significantly contribute to the heat transfer between outdoor and indoor spaces and act directly on daylighting and thermal comfort. This paper reports on the spectrophotometric characterization of glazings transmittance for the study of components of a modular façade system and its suitability for the climate of Portugal (temperate climate). The study focused on results of spectrophotometric measurements of optical properties, specifically the transmittance of some types of glazings (solar control, self-cleaning, low-e, float, and extra-clear) and two types of double glazings. The results show the percentage of transmission to ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared regions and its importance, which enabled the analysis of the glazing efficiency regarding daylighting and the correlation to thermal performance. Subsidies and indications for the specification and adequate uses of transparent surfaces have been presented and complemented the datasheets available from the manufactures.

The palafitic timber constructions of the central Portuguese coastline are an example of the adaptation to site-specific conditions (climate and sand landscape morphodynamics) using the available endogenous resources. Thus, in a context of environmental awareness and climate change, it is relevant to understand their features/strategies and how they perform. This work analyses the energy performance and thermal condition evaluation of a vernacular timber building–palheiro–from Praia de Mira, through in situ measurements, subjective analysis and energy simulation provided by DesignBuilder/EnergyPlus. The results show a good or satisfactory thermal performance during most of the seasons by passive means only. Despite, it was not possible to guarantee thermal comfort conditions for the occupants during winter. In the energy performance analysis, five scenarios, with different external walls, were compared. In the two scenarios that satisfy the maximum U-value for the climate zone, the current conventional building had a slightly better performance on heating and cooling (less 1.1 and 1.4 kWh/m2, respectively) than the timber building. However, the difference between the two construction solutions is not substantial in the annual energy demand (2.5 kWh/m2, 7.3%), indicating that timber structures are suitable in this mild climate area.

To achieve an adequate quality of buildings it is necessary to consider a set of aspects that are interconnected and influence each other, not always in a favourable way. The selection of the most suitable construction solution for the building elements must consider its contribution for the thermal comfort, the Indoor Air Quality, the daylight conditions inside the buildings, its energy efficiency and the acoustic behaviour. In this work the use of a multi-criteria decision analysis method, to balance all these aspects on the design phase, in order to assist the designer in the selection of design alternatives, construction solutions and materials regarding the different aspects that affect the Indoor Environmental Quality and the energy performance of the buildings is presented. The selection of the most suitable design alternative will increase the buildings thermal behaviour and also its energy performance. The proposed multi-criteria method allows buildings to be rated according to their energy use and comfort conditions, or by using a set of parameters involving environmental factors. Throughout the multi-criteria analysis performed, it was possible to verify that the overall comfort exigencies are not restrictive, because there are a large number of constructive solutions that, when adequately used, will assure all the needs, being only necessary to integrate the exigencies of all the different requirements.