Sustainable Technologies for Nearly Zero Energy Buildings

Abstract

In the past decades, the energy performance of buildings has increased by a factor of 10, which is significantly higher than in other energy use sectors. At that time, the EU's energy and environment policy led to the creation of regulatory requirements, standards and technologies for the implementation of complex systems such as passive buildings or sustainable buildings. European Union expressed commitment to develop sustainable, competitive, secure and decarbonized energy system, by adopting Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD), including requirements for nearly Zero-Energy Buildings (nZEB). Since energy efficiency and environmental sustainability requirements are becoming more and more complex, the knowledge of building designers must be more comprehensive too-from understanding of physical principles, have an overview of legal framework, to be familiar with advanced building service technologies and finally to have a knowledge of using methods for comprehensive verification of the 'final product': nZEB. Awareness that deep interdisciplinary knowledge is the only guarantee that this task will be fulfilled has been a guide to the design of the contents and the scope of this book.Through 14 chapters, the book leads the reader through basics of planning and evaluation of living comfort in the indoor environment, basics of building physics, instructions for determination of thermal response of building structures, explanations and evaluation of nZEB requirements and design, energy efficiency evaluation of buildings' service systems, presentation of methods for planning and evaluation of buildings' energy performance and the environmental impacts caused by lifelong use of energy and materials in buildings. Students of architecture, civil and mechanical engineering and students of other engineering professions, as well as professional building planners, will get acquainted with modern technologies for 'in-situ' and 'near-by' production of heat, cold and electricity in nearly zero-energy buildings including energy-efficient measures and renewable energy technologies utilization. Theoretical content is supported by in-situ experiments results, numerical examples and case studies, which were developed by colleges of Laboratory for Sustainable Technologies in Buildings (LOTZ), Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana. v The book is an upgraded teaching material developed in the frame of ERASMUS+ Project EduLabFrame (2014-1-RO01-KA203-002986) and we would like to thank the colleagues involved in the project. The authors would also like to thank Viessmann Werke GmbH & Co. KG for extended picture material. We would like to thank all other cited authors and sources. Finally, we would like to thank company TRIMO d.o.o. to enable TRIMOExpert software for downloading from www.TRIMO/eu.

Rethinking sustainability towards a regenerative economy

“…Acclimatization can result from personal adjustment (behavior, selection of clothes and activities, reallocation), technological modification (using shades or windows, heating or fans), cultural acclimation (implementation of daily activities, dress codes), and climate conditions (Medved, Arkar, & Domjan, 2019). The reaction to an incentive, as well as the range of possible changes (in clothing, daily activities, etc.…”

“…Indoor air quality, lighting, acoustic, and thermal comfort aspects must ensure the indoor environment quality with the minimum possible energy use (Medved et al, 2019). In the context of global warming, an adequate prediction of the built environment provides occupants a comfortable thermal sensation, and further specifies the building's cooling and heating loads (Nguyen, Singh, & Reiter, 2012).…”

“…Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system dimensioning addressing these reduced loads (Torcellini & Crawley, 2006). The lighting is linked to the high demand for electricity, which can be reduced by intelligently adapting the lighting to daylight (Medved et al, 2019), such as daylight implementation with automated controls when available and in dim light, or even better, switching off the lights (Torcellini & Crawley, 2006). The inclusion of a number of possibilities in the design enables higher customization to suit personalized comfort needs.…”

Climatic, Cultural, Behavioural and Technical Influences on the Indoor Environment Quality and Their Relevance for a Regenerative Future

“…The internal comfort evaluation usually oriented to several physical parameters that impact how people perceive the indoor environment based on their psychological and physiological characteristics. Indoor air quality, lighting, acoustic, and thermal comfort aspects must ensure the indoor environment quality with the minimum possible energy use (Medved et al, 2019). In the context of global warming, an adequate prediction of the built environment provides occupants a comfortable thermal sensation, and further specifies the building's cooling and heating loads (Nguyen, Singh, & Reiter, 2012).…”

Fast Modelling of nZEB Metrics of Office Buildings Built with Advanced Glass and BIPV Facade Structures

“…Nearly Zero Energy Buildings were introduced by the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) recast [1] as energy efficient buildings with high shares of the utilization of on-site or near-by renewable energy sources [2]. EU member states have introduced nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB) metrics.…”