scholarly journals Analysis of the determining parameters of energy efficiency on residential buildings in the Mediterranean climate

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Pastor ◽  
F. García-Alonso ◽  
J. A. Reyes ◽  
Y. Villacampa
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Mediterranean Climate ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
The Mediterranean

DSF studies towards energy efficiency for a tall building design in the Mediterranean climate

2020 ◽  
pp. 165-179
Author(s):  
T Saroglou ◽  
T Theodosiou ◽  
I. A. Meir
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Energy Efficient ◽  
Mediterranean Climate ◽  
Tall Buildings ◽  
Building Design ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Tall Building ◽  
Energy Demands ◽  
The Mediterranean

Tall buildings around the world are increasing at an accelerating pace. However, this fast-pace development is not in tandem with today’s environmental considerations towards reducing high carbon emissions, mainly relating to the building sector (close to 50% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions). The vast scale and energy demands of tall buildings call for an in-depth study of this building typology towards improving energy efficiency. An important consideration for lowering energy demands is the configuration of the building envelope that acts as the mediator between indoor and outdoor conditions, according to the climate and microclimate of the building’s location. Current architectural practices of fully glazed curtain wall envelopes make this relationship problematic, by resulting in high-energy loads for achieving thermal comfort. Over the last few years, a step forward towards energy efficiency is the use of a double-skin façade (DSF). Its application, however, is lacking consideration of the specific climatic conditions that will essentially result in an energy efficient design. Previous research revealed that the most energy efficient DSF in the Mediterranean climate is with LowE glazing as the outside DSF layer. Further studies on DSF cavity width for a hot climate, were in favour of wider cavities, as these reduce the high cooling loads that are associated with this climate. Additionally, simulations of an office building in the Mediterranean climate, confirmed that cooling energy is also present during winter (airtight DSF), suggesting for a more active DSF envelope design throughout the year. A further study is then conducted through simulations, where the DSF design alternates between an open / closed DSF, and comparisons are made in relation to DSF width, building height above ground, outdoor environmental conditions and interior thermal comfort, for further improving the energy efficiency of tall building design.

Investigation of Façade Contribution in Energy Efficiency of a Low Rise Office Building in Mediterranean Climate

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nagham Yahya ◽  
◽  
Rania Al-Ali ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Mediterranean Climate ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Building Energy ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Office Buildings ◽  
Office Building ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Building Facade ◽  
The Mediterranean

The way that buildings are designed and constructed today has a negative impact on building energy consumption. Facade components are essential in determining the building energy demand during the operational phase. This paper aims to investigate what role the building façade plays in improving the energy efficiency of a low rise office buildings in a Mediterranean climate. Verification of the façade energy performance for one of the Eastern Mediterranean University buildings in Northern Cyprus, namely Rector’s Office Building is the second phase of the study. To conduct the present study, a literature review is used, as well as, an analyze for a group of contemporary low rise office buildings with LEED certification from the Mediterranean climatic zone is achieved to attain the investigation and to set the verification checklist. The study has established the important role that building facade can play to reduce the annual building demand for energy in the Mediterranean low rise office buildings through a set of strategies. Different techniques were used to apply these strategies. According to the verification, the study revealed an attempt to achieve an energy efficient building through the façade design by using specific techniques. Some suggestions have been recommended in order to improve the facade energy performance for this type of buildings.

Fiscal deduction in Italy for energy efficiency in residential buildings: Some insights

2017 ◽  
pp. 15-29
Author(s):  
Domenico Prisinzano ◽  
Alessandro Federici ◽  
Amalia Martelli ◽  
Chiara Martini ◽  
Roberto Moneta
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Residential Buildings

scholarly journals Effects and Economic Sustainability of Biochar Application on Corn Production in a Mediterranean Climate

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 3313
Author(s):  
Juan Luis Aguirre ◽  
María Teresa Martín ◽  
Sergio González ◽  
Manuel Peinado
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Mediterranean Climate ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Economic Sustainability ◽  
Corn Production ◽  
Enhanced Production ◽  
Wet Weight ◽  
The Mediterranean

The effects of two types of biochar on corn production in the Mediterranean climate during the growing season were analyzed. The two types of biochar were obtained from pyrolysis of Pinus pinaster. B1 was fully pyrolyzed with 55.90% organic carbon, and B2 was medium pyrolyzed with 23.50% organic carbon. B1 and B2 were supplemented in the soil of 20 plots (1 m2) at a dose of 4 kg/m2. C1 and C2 (10 plots each) served as control plots. The plots were automatically irrigated and fertilizer was not applied. The B1-supplemented plots exhibited a significant 84.58% increase in dry corn production per square meter and a 93.16% increase in corn wet weight (p << 0.001). Corn production was no different between B2-supplemented, C1, and C2 plots (p > 0.01). The weight of cobs from B1-supplemented plots was 62.3%, which was significantly higher than that of cobs from C1 and C2 plots (p < 0.01). The grain weight increased significantly by 23% in B1-supplemented plots (p < 0.01) and there were no differences between B2-supplemented, C1, and C2 plots. At the end of the treatment, the soil of the B1-supplemented plots exhibited increased levels of sulfate, nitrate, magnesium, conductivity, and saturation percentage. Based on these results, the economic sustainability of this application in agriculture was studied at a standard price of €190 per ton of biochar. Amortization of this investment can be achieved in 5.52 years according to this cost. Considering the fertilizer cost savings of 50% and the water cost savings of 25%, the amortization can be achieved in 4.15 years. If the price of biochar could be reduced through the CO2 emission market at €30 per ton of non-emitted CO2, the amortization can be achieved in 2.80 years. Biochar markedly improves corn production in the Mediterranean climate. However, the amortization time must be further reduced, and enhanced production must be guaranteed over the years with long term field trials so that the product is marketable or other high value-added crops must be identified.

scholarly journals Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of an Innovative Compact Hybrid Electrical-Thermal Storage System for Residential Buildings in Mediterranean Climate

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 5322
Author(s):  
Gabriel Zsembinszki ◽  
Noelia Llantoy ◽  
Valeria Palomba ◽  
Andrea Frazzica ◽  
Mattia Dallapiccola ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Mediterranean Climate ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Storage System ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Electrical Consumption ◽  
The Impact

The buildings sector is one of the least sustainable activities in the world, accounting for around 40% of the total global energy demand. With the aim to reduce the environmental impact of this sector, the use of renewable energy sources coupled with energy storage systems in buildings has been investigated in recent years. Innovative solutions for cooling, heating, and domestic hot water in buildings can contribute to the buildings’ decarbonization by achieving a reduction of building electrical consumption needed to keep comfortable conditions. However, the environmental impact of a new system is not only related to its electrical consumption from the grid, but also to the environmental load produced in the manufacturing and disposal stages of system components. This study investigates the environmental impact of an innovative system proposed for residential buildings in Mediterranean climate through a life cycle assessment. The results show that, due to the complexity of the system, the manufacturing and disposal stages have a high environmental impact, which is not compensated by the reduction of the impact during the operational stage. A parametric study was also performed to investigate the effect of the design of the storage system on the overall system impact.

scholarly journals Contradictory Conservation: The Role of Leadership in Shaping Energy Efficiency Culture in Urban Residential Cooperative Buildings

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 648
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Hewitt
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Cost Efficiency ◽  
Board Member ◽  
Environmental Concern ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Organizational Structures ◽  
Leadership Roles ◽  
Strong Energy ◽  
Informal Leaders

In addition to formalized leadership roles within organizations, leadership can also influence members through informal channels. This work argues that multifamily residential buildings can be viewed as organizations and, as such, explores the influence that informal leaders can wield in shaping culture around the motivation for conserving energy. This work draws on qualitative fieldwork conducted in a Brooklyn cooperative building. Findings indicate that the study building benefitted from the leadership of a long-standing board member, which contributed to the implementation of a number of energy efficiency initiatives. Interestingly, this leadership also led to a culture of cost efficiency over environmental concern as the motivating force behind these initiatives. This narrative was well disseminated, with most residents reporting that the building does not have a culture of conservation, despite a strong energy efficiency leaning. Thus, this work posits that leadership can greatly shape perception and culture around energy but can also be leveraged to craft a more environmentally-motivated conservation culture. It also argues that leadership can be complementary to decentralized organizational structures, and that creative mechanisms in residential buildings can capitalize on both, allowing members at all levels of the organization more influence in shaping the building’s culture.

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