Towards Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings in Mediterranean and Latin American Countries

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

The building sector is responsible for 40% of the energy consumption and 36% of the greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union. Thus, the European Union has established increasing energy savings and efficiency in this sector as a priority through the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), which has been implemented in the different Member States. The EPBD 2010 defined nearly zero-energy buildings (NZEBs) as buildings with very high energy performance, whose low amount of required energy is derived mainly from renewable energy sources. The EPBD 2018 aims to achieve a highly energy-efficient and decarbonised building stock by 2050. In addition, taking into account the high degree of ageing of the existing building stock, the energy renovation of buildings is fundamental for achieving this objective.

This Topic focuses on the achievement of NZEBs in the Member States of the European Union in the Mediterranean. The implications and experiences of implementing the EPBD in these countries can serve as a reference to achieve NZEBs and improve the energy savings and efficiency in the building sector in other countries outside the European Union both in the Mediterranean and Latin America. The main objective of this Topic is to publish the latest research on how to achieve NZEBs in Mediterranean and Latin American countries through energy renovation or new construction and establish the minimum necessary requirements and on what the energy, environmental and economic impacts these actions will have on the building sector. Therefore, this Topic will cover but is not limited to the following topics: definition of NZEBs, improvements in the thermal building regulations, analysis of the building sector and future projections, application of cost-optimal methodologies for the design of renovated and new buildings, energy performance certificates of buildings, energy renovation of buildings, and use of renewable energy sources in buildings.

Prof. Dr. Luis M. López-Ochoa
Dr. Jesús Las-Heras-Casas
Dr. Nuno M. M. Ramos
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Applied Sciences applsci	2.5	5.3	2011	18.4 Days	CHF 2400
Architecture architecture	-	-	2021	36.3 Days	CHF 1000
Buildings buildings	3.1	3.4	2011	15.3 Days	CHF 2600
Energies energies	3.0	6.2	2008	16.8 Days	CHF 2600
Eng eng	-	2.1	2020	21.5 Days	CHF 1200
Sustainability sustainability	3.3	6.8	2009	19.7 Days	CHF 2400

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17 pages, 2164 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Empowering Remote Living: Optimizing Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems in Mexico

by Juan Carlos León Gómez, Jesus Aguayo Alquicira, Susana Estefany De León Aldaco, Oscar Sánchez Vargas and Kenia Yadira Gómez Díaz

Eng 2024, 5(3), 1382-1398; https://doi.org/10.3390/eng5030072 - 8 Jul 2024

Viewed by 1096

Abstract

The developing environmental consequences of excessive dependence on fossil fuels have pushed many countries to invest in clean and renewable energy sources. Mexico is a country that, due to its geographic and climatic diversity, can take advantage of this potential in renewable energy [...] Read more.

The developing environmental consequences of excessive dependence on fossil fuels have pushed many countries to invest in clean and renewable energy sources. Mexico is a country that, due to its geographic and climatic diversity, can take advantage of this potential in renewable energy generation and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels while developing strategies to improve its energy system. This study investigated the feasibility of the autonomous use of two hybrid renewable energy systems and a photovoltaic system to power homes in a remote location. With the help of HOMER Pro Version 3.14.5 software, a model was made to evaluate the operation of three systems for one year, and the demand was predicted according to a given scenario. In addition, the optimal configuration of the components of each system was determined. The results showed that the simultaneous use of solar systems with a converter and a backup system consisting of a diesel generator and batteries would be the most viable and reliable option for generating renewable energy at the selected location, offering electricity with a renewable fraction of more than 80%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Towards Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings in Mediterranean and Latin American Countries)

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<p>Geographical location of Arca.</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>The daily and monthly electric load profile of Arca.</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>Characteristics of a wind turbine [<a href="#B17-eng-05-00072" class="html-bibr">17</a>].</p> Full article ">Figure 4
<p>Load-Following energy dispatch strategy diagram.</p> Full article ">Figure 5
<p>Representation of systems in HOMER.</p> Full article ">Figure 6
<p>Monthly electricity production by source.</p> Full article ">

24 pages, 8540 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Use of “Glass Curtain” Systems to Improve the Energy Efficiency and Thermal Comfort of Dwellings in a Warm Semi-Arid Mediterranean Climate

by Carlos Pérez-Carramiñana, Samuel Sabatell-Canales, Ángel Benigno González-Avilés and Antonio Galiano-Garrigós

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(24), 13082; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132413082 - 7 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1470

Abstract

The dry Mediterranean climate (BShs) within a warm semi-arid climate (BSh) is the zone in Europe with the most annual hours of sunlight, and it has a smaller annual temperature variation than most climates. This allows the greenhouse effect caused by windows to [...] Read more.

The dry Mediterranean climate (BShs) within a warm semi-arid climate (BSh) is the zone in Europe with the most annual hours of sunlight, and it has a smaller annual temperature variation than most climates. This allows the greenhouse effect caused by windows to be used to heat dwellings in winter. Balcony frameless retractable glazing systems known as “glass curtain” systems offer the highest proportion of glass and maximum openness in the façade, allowing for maximum sunlight and ventilation. This work studies a glazed terrace with a “glass curtain” in a dwelling on the Spanish Mediterranean coastline. The objective is to quantitatively determine the enhancement of the thermal comfort and energy efficiency of a dwelling using “glass curtain” systems. The modification of several design parameters of the glazed terrace is also analysed. The novelty of this study lies in demonstrating that the use and optimised design of “glass curtain” systems allows us to obtain nearly zero-energy buildings (nZEBs) and thermally comfortable dwellings all year round. The research methods include a comparison of the current thermal performance of the dwelling with and without a “glass curtain” system via on-site measurements. The study also evaluates the influence of modifying design parameters using computer simulations. The results show that “glass curtain” systems increase the indoor temperatures inside the dwelling by about 4 °C in winter and reduce the annual indoor thermal oscillation from more than 16 °C to only 10 °C. Consequently, such systems reduce heating energy needs by almost 60%. Glazed terraces using the proposed design parameters show further improvement regarding thermal comfort and practically eliminate heating and cooling needs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Towards Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings in Mediterranean and Latin American Countries)

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Figure 1

Figure 1
<p>(<b>a</b>) Location in the BShs climate zone (red) and (<b>b</b>) location map of the analysed building.</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>Building of the dwelling under study: (<b>a</b>) general view of the building and (<b>b</b>) interior distribution of the analysed dwelling.</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>On-site measurements of the studied building enclosures: (<b>a</b>) thermographic photograph and (<b>b</b>) thermal transmittance measurement.</p> Full article ">Figure 4
<p>On-site measurements of the studied building enclosures: (<b>a</b>) hot-wire probe measurements and wireless probe measurements and (<b>b</b>) black globe temperature measurements.</p> Full article ">Figure 5
<p>Measuring devices: (<b>a</b>) thermographic camera; (<b>b</b>) thermal transmittance flowmeter; (<b>c</b>) humidity/temperature probe; (<b>d</b>) surface probe; (<b>e</b>) hot wire probe; and (<b>f</b>) black balloon probe.</p> Full article ">Figure 6
<p>On-site measurements and computer simulation measures of the mean operating temperatures inside the dwelling: with he “glass curtain” system closed in winter and without it.</p> Full article ">Figure 7
<p>Distribution of the on-site measurements of the mean indoor temperatures, depending on the location inside the dwelling, at 14:00 h in the extreme winter week (3–7 January): (<b>a</b>) without a “glass curtain” system and (<b>b</b>) with a “glass curtain” system closed.</p> Full article ">Figure 8
<p>Results of the thermal comfort surveys and computer simulations of thermal sensation with a “glass curtain” system closed and without it: (<b>a</b>) occupants’ thermal sensation and (<b>b</b>) percentage of dissatisfied users.</p> Full article ">Figure 9
<p>Comfort survey results in the coldest week of the year (3–7 January): (<b>a</b>) without a “glass curtain” system and (<b>b</b>) with a “glass curtain” system closed.</p> Full article ">Figure 10
<p>Annual cooling and heating energy needs with the “glass curtain” system closed and without it.</p> Full article ">Figure 11
<p>Mean operating temperatures inside the glazed terrace in a typical winter week, depending on the depth of the glazed terrace and if it is thermally insulated from the adjacent terraces (adiabatic terrace).</p> Full article ">Figure 12
<p>Mean operating temperatures inside the glazed terrace in a typical winter week, depending on the solar factor of the “glass curtain” glass and if the terrace is thermally insulated from the adjacent terraces (adiabatic terrace).</p> Full article ">Figure 13
<p>Mean operating temperatures inside the dwelling, depending on the window wall ratio of the original façade and if the terrace is thermally insulated from the adjacent terraces (adiabatic terrace).</p> Full article ">Figure 14
<p>Cooling and heating energy needs with mobile shadow devices and without it, and if the terrace is thermally insulated from the adjacent terraces (ad.: adiabatic terrace).</p> Full article ">Figure 15
<p>Cooling and heating energy needs without ventilation between the glazed terrace and the inside of the dwelling, with ventilation 24 h/7 days, and with scheduled ventilation, and if the terrace is thermally insulated from the adjacent terraces (ad.: adiabatic terrace).</p> Full article ">Figure 16
<p>Distribution of the mean operating temperatures, depending on the location inside the dwelling, at 14:00 h in the coldest week of the year (3–7 January): (<b>a</b>) with a “glass curtain” system and without ventilation system for thermal balance; and (<b>b</b>) with a “glass curtain” system and with ventilation system for thermal balance.</p> Full article ">Figure 17
<p>Distribution of the mean operating temperatures, depending on the location inside the dwelling, at 14:00 h in the extreme summer week (7–14 August): (<b>a</b>) without ventilation system and (<b>b</b>) with ventilation system.</p> Full article ">Figure 18
<p>Computer simulation measures of the mean operating temperatures inside the dwelling: without the “glass curtain” system, with the “glass curtain” system closed in winter and with the optimal proposed parameters.</p> Full article ">Figure 19
<p>Results of the computer simulations of thermal comfort without the “glass curtain” system, with “glass curtain” and with the optimal proposed parameters: (<b>a</b>) predicted mean vote (PMV); and (<b>b</b>) predicted percentage of dissatisfied users (PPD).</p> Full article ">Figure 20
<p>Annual cooling and heating energy needs with the optimal proposed parameters.</p> Full article ">

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