Smart Energy Control Systems for Sustainable Buildings

Abstract

There is widespread interest in the way that smart energy control systems, such as assessment and monitoring techniques for low carbon, nearly-zero energy and net positive buildings can contribute to a Sustainable future, for current and future generations. There is a turning point on the horizon for the supply of energy from finite resources such as natural gas and oil become less reliable in economic terms and extraction become more challenging, and more unacceptable socially, such as adverse public reaction to 'fracking'. Thus, in 2016 these challenges are having a major influence on the design, optimisation, performance measurements, operation and preservation of: buildings, neighbourhoods, cities, regions, countries and continents. The source and nature of energy, the security of supply and the equity of distribution, the environmental impact of its supply and utilization, are all crucial matters to be addressed by suppliers, consumers, governments, industry, academia, and financial institutions. This book entitled 'Smart Energy Control Systems for Sustainable Buildings' contains eleven chapters written by international experts based on enhanced conference papers presented at the Sustainability and Energy in Buildings International conference series. This book will be of interest to University staff and students; and also industry practioners. Foreword; Contents; Introduction; 1 Zero-Energy Living Lab; Abstract; 1.1 Introduction; 1.2 The Climate Challenges; 1.3 The Building; 1.4 Simulation and Optimization of the Design Concept; 1.4.1 Mathematical Optimization; 1.4.2 Dynamic Building Performance Simulation; 1.4.3 Simulation Outcome and Discussion; 1.5 Experimental Set-up; 1.6 Earth to Air Heat Exchanger; 1.6.1 Location of the Earth-to-Air Heat Exchanger and Identification of the Boundary Conditions; 1.6.2 Design of the EAHE; 1.6.2.1 Selection of the Backfill Soil Material; 1.6.2.2 Sizing of the EAHE. 1.6.2.3 Selection of the Pipe Diameter and the Nominal Airflow of the Fan1.6.3 Design of the Monitoring System of the Earth-to-Air Heat Exchanger; 1.6.4 Installation of the Earth-to-Air Heat Exchanger; 1.7 System Start-up and Early Outcomes; 1.8 Conclusions; Acknowledgements; References; 2 Assessment of the Green Roofs Thermal Dynamic Behavior for Increasing the Building Energy Efficiencies; Abstract; 2.1 Introduction; 2.2 Materials and Methods; 2.3 Green Roof Modeling; 2.4 Methodology; 2.4.1 Building Simulations; 2.4.1.1 Thermal Dynamic Behavior; 2.4.1.2 Thermal Comfort; 2.5 Pilot Study. 2.5.1 Reference Building2.6 Building Retrofits Scenario; 2.6.1 Descriptions of the Green Roof; 2.7 Energy Performance Simulations; 2.7.1 Building Simulations; 2.7.2 Energy Needs; 2.7.3 Assessment of the Thermal Dynamic Behaviour; 2.7.3.1 Assessment of the Thermal Dynamic Behaviour; 2.7.4 Assessment of Thermal Comfort; 2.8 Discussion; 2.9 Conclusions; References; 3 Understanding Opportunities and Barriers for Social Occupant Learning in Low Carbon Housing; Abstract; 3.1 Introduction; 3.2 Home Use Social Learning Conceptual Framework; 3.3 Methods; 3.3.1 Quantitative Monitoring. 3.3.2 Qualitative Building and User Related Data3.3.3 The Surveys; 3.4 Understanding the Key Home Use Learning Challenges; 3.5 Analysing Home Use Expectations, Prior Experiences and Skills; 3.6 Provision of Individual Home Use Learning Support; 3.7 Decision-Making, Skills and Understanding Related to Home Use; 3.8 Correlation of Results for MVHR in Relation to Clarity of Use; 3.9 Discussion of Barriers and Opportunities for Collective Learning; 3.10 Conclusions; Acknowledgements; References; 4 An Archetype Based Building Stock Aggregation Methodology Using a Remote Survey Technique; Abstract. 4.1 Introduction and Background4.2 Overview of Existing Studies Using Stock Modelling Methodologies; 4.2.1 Various Modelling Techniques; 4.3 Stock Modelling Method Used; 4.3.1 Data Collection Methods; 4.3.1.1 Classification; 4.3.1.2 Geometrical; 4.3.1.3 Thermal; 4.4 Methodology for Archetype Development; 4.5 Application of Stock Aggregation Method; 4.5.1 Results for Geometrical and Thermal Characteristics; 4.6 Archetypes Development; 4.7 Results from Case Study; 4.8 Discussion; 4.9 Conclusion and Future Work; References.