Assessing the Performance of Passive Houses in Mediterranean Climate Regions

Assessing the Performance of Passive Houses in Mediterranean Climate Regions

Author: Vincenzo Costanzo

Publisher: MDPI

Published: 2020-05-15

Total Pages: 138

ISBN-13: 3039289497

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This book results from a Special Issue related to the latest progress in the thermodynamics of machines systems and processes since the premonitory work of Carnot. Carnot invented his famous cycle and generalized the efficiency concept for thermo-mechanical engines. Since that time, research progressed from the equilibrium approach to the irreversible situation that represents the general case. This book illustrates the present state-of-the-art advances after one or two centuries of consideration regarding applications and fundamental aspects. The research is moving fast in the direction of economic and environmental aspects. This will probably continue during the coming years. This book mainly highlights the recent focus on the maximum power of engines, as well as the corresponding first law efficiency upper bounds.


An Introduction to Passive House

An Introduction to Passive House

Author: Justin Bere

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2019-07-25

Total Pages: 275

ISBN-13: 1000708071

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Throughout the world, Passive House is now recognised as the best method to create comfortable, healthy, low energy buildings and it is a key component of the 21st century's green economic revolution. Written by one of the UK's leading passive house architects, this book contains essays that reveal the technical and creative secrets of Passive House design, as well as containing case studies of some of the world's best examples of beautiful, technically excellent buildings that still feel great even when the power supply is turned down to almost nothing. Whether you are an architect, client, student or construction professional, this book is an enlightening introduction to Passive House and a valuable source of inspiration.


Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB)

Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB)

Author: Shady Attia

Publisher: Butterworth-Heinemann

Published: 2018-03-26

Total Pages: 402

ISBN-13: 0128124628

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB): Concepts, Frameworks and Roadmap for Project Analysis and Implementation provides readers with the elements they need to understand, combine and contextualize design decisions on Net Zero Energy Buildings. The book is based on learned lessons from NZEB design, construction, operation that are integrated to bring the most relevant topics, such as multidisciplinarity, climate sensitivity, comfort requirements, carbon footprints, construction quality and evidence-based design. Chapters introduce the context of high performance buildings, present overviews of NZEB, cover the performance thresholds for efficient buildings, cover materials, micro-grid and smart grids, construction quality, performance monitoring, post occupancy evaluation, and more. - Offers a roadmap for engaging in energy efficiency in high performance buildings projects - Combines solid grounding in core concepts, such as energy efficiency, with a wider context that includes the technical, socio-cultural and environmental dimensions - Covers key areas for decision-making - Provides a logical framework to analyze projects in the context of environmental change - Presents worldwide examples and cases for different climates and societies


The Passivhaus Designer’s Manual

The Passivhaus Designer’s Manual

Author: Christina Hopfe

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2015-10-05

Total Pages: 346

ISBN-13: 1317536916

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Passivhaus is the fastest growing energy performance standard in the world, with almost 50,000 buildings realised to date. Applicable to both domestic and non-domestic building types, the strength of Passivhaus lies in the simplicity of the concept. As European and global energy directives move ever closer towards Zero (fossil) Energy standards, Passivhaus provides a robust ‘fabric first’ approach from which to make the next step. The Passivhaus Designers Manual is the most comprehensive technical guide available to those wishing to design and build Passivhaus and Zero Energy Buildings. As a technical reference for architects, engineers and construction professionals The Passivhaus Designers Manual provides: State of the art guidance for anyone designing or working on a Passivhaus project; In depth information on building services, including high performance ventilation systems and ultra-low energy heating and cooling systems; Holistic design guidance encompassing: daylight design, ecological materials, thermal comfort, indoor air quality and economics; Practical advice on procurement methods, project management and quality assurance; Renewable energy systems suitable for Passivhaus and Zero Energy Buildings; Practical case studies from the UK, USA, and Germany amongst others; Detailed worked examples to show you how it’s done and what to look out for; Expert advice from 20 world renowned Passivhaus designers, architects, building physicists and engineers. Lavishly illustrated with nearly 200 full colour illustrations, and presented by two highly experienced specialists, this is your one-stop shop for comprehensive practical information on Passivhaus and Zero Energy buildings.


Energy and the New Reality 1

Energy and the New Reality 1

Author: L. D. Danny Harvey

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2010-08-12

Total Pages: 669

ISBN-13: 1136542728

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Reducing and managing humanity's demand for energy is a fundamental part of the effort to mitigate climate change. In this, the most comprehensive textbook ever written on the subject, L.D. Danny Harvey lays out the theory and practice of how things must change if we are to meet our energy needs sustainably. The book begins with a succinct summary of the scientific basis for concern over global warming, then outlines energy basics and current patterns and trends in energy use. This is followed by a discussion of current and advanced technologies for the generation of electricity from fossil fuels. The book then considers in detail how energy is used, and how this use can be dramatically reduced, in the following end-use sectors: - buildings - transportation - industry - food and agriculture - municipal services The findings from these sector-by-sector assessments are then applied to generate scenarios of how global energy demand could evolve over the coming decades with full implementation of the identified and economically-feasible energy-saving potential. The book ends with a brief discussion of policies that can be used to reduce energy demand, but also addresses the limits of technologically-based improvements in efficiency in moderating demand and of the need to re-think some of our underlying assumptions concern ends with a brief discusing what we really need. Along with its companion volume on C-free energy supply, and accompanied by extensive supplementary online material, this is an essential resource for students and practitioners in engineering, architecture, environment and energy related fields. Online material includes: Excel-based computational exercises, teaching slides for each chapter, links to free software tools.


Energy Production and Management in the 21st Century II

Energy Production and Management in the 21st Century II

Author: C.A. Brebbia

Publisher: WIT Press

Published: 2016-09-28

Total Pages: 321

ISBN-13: 1784661074

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Discussing the future of energy production and management in a changing world, this book presents the proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Energy Production and Management in the 21st Century: The Quest for Sustainable Energy. The intention of the book is to examine the future of energy production and management in a changing world and follows on from the first and very successful meeting held in Ekaterinburg, Russia in 2014. Developed societies require an ever increasing amount of energy resources, which creates complex technological challenges. The challenge in many cases is the conversion of new sources of energy into useful forms such as electricity, heat and fuel while finding efficient ways of storing and distributing energy. Equal challenges lie with the production of such renewable energy at an acceptable cost, including damage to the environment, as well as with integration of those resources into the existing infrastructure. The book deliberates the energy use of industrial processes, including the imbedded energy contents of materials, such as those in the built environment. Energy production, distribution and usage, result in environmental risks which need to be better understood. They are part of the energy economics and relate to human environmental health as well as ecosystems behaviour. A number of topics are covered including: Energy and the city; Energy security; Energy distribution; Energy networks; Processing of oil and gas emissions; Pipelines; Renewable energies; Energy use in building; Industry and transport; Safety management; Tight energy fields; Energy and climate change and Biomass and biofuels.


Thermal Comfort Assessment of Buildings

Thermal Comfort Assessment of Buildings

Author: Salvatore Carlucci

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2013-05-24

Total Pages: 145

ISBN-13: 8847052386

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

A number of metrics for assessing human thermal response to climatic conditions have been proposed in scientific literature over the last decades. They aim at describing human thermal perception of the thermal environment to which an individual or a group of people is exposed. More recently, a new type of “discomfort index” has been proposed for describing, in a synthetic way, long-term phenomena. Starting from a systematic review of a number of long-term global discomfort indices, they are then contrasted and compared on a reference case study in order to identify their similarities and differences and strengths and weaknesses. Based on this analysis, a new short-term local discomfort index is proposed for the American Adaptive comfort model. Finally, a new and reliable long-term general discomfort index is presented. It is delivered in three versions and each of them is suitable to be respectively coupled with the Fanger, the European Adaptive and the American Adaptive comfort models.


Zero-carbon Homes

Zero-carbon Homes

Author: Joanna Williams

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2013-04-15

Total Pages: 455

ISBN-13: 1136575545

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Housing is a major contributor to CO2 emissions in Europe and America today and the construction of new homes offers an opportunity to address this issue. Providing homes that achieve "zero carbon", "carbon neutral", "zero-net energy" or "energy-plus" standard is becoming the goal of more innovative house-builders globally, whilst energy providers seek to decarbonise the energy supply to new and existing development. Various new technical systems for achieving these goals are beginning to emerge. For example the passive house whose energy requirement for space heating and cooling is almost zero; the smart grid that has revolutionized the management of energy, whilst enabling the connection of small-scale, renewable energy producers and electric vehicles to the grid; or the European super-grid which will enable zero carbon energy to be generated in the Sahara desert and stored in Norway. This book explores the diverse approaches that are being adopted around the world to deliver zero carbon homes and the different societal systems and geographic circumstances in which they have developed. It postulates a roadmap for delivering zero carbon homes, together with a toolbox approach for policy and practice to suit particular national and local circumstances. A series of case studies are presented that offer lessons for delivering zero carbon homes. These examples are also used to demonstrate how prototype systems can move into the mainstream. The book highlights some of the instruments and mechanisms that could be used to support this transformation and addresses the wider implications of introducing these innovative systems in terms of industry, lifestyle and urban form.