In this paper different configurations of an open-space office located in Rome has been simulated with EnergyPlus 8 to compare the performance outdoor and indoor shading devices concerning thermal visual comfort overall primary energy use. The standard PMV indices [1] have calculated considering also effect diffuse beam solar radiation directly reaching occupants through windows. Although use shades always improves comfort, demand could increase as internal position combination particular...

Thermally comfortable indoor environments are of great importance, as modern lifestyles often require people to spend more than 20 h per day indoors. Since most the thermal comfort models use a variety different environmental and personal factors that need be measured or estimated, real-time continuous assessment is not practically feasible. This work presents cheap non-invasive approach based on infrared imaging for monitoring occupants’ sensation in real time. Thanks mechatronic device...

The European Directive on Energy Efficiency in Buildings (Directive 2010/31/EU) has introduced the need to transform buildings nearly zero energy (NZEB) by 2020. Existing represent major part of building stock and an interesting challenge is transfer it toward NZEB. retrofit even more significant Italy, where existing (mainly residential) also historic, so it's subject environmental constraints or architectural-artistic value, influenced specific regulations methods intervention for...

Different optimization tools have been developed to find the best trade-off between competitive goals. The problem is typical of design process, where different solutions be compared achieve one or more objectives, often in contrast with each other. A quite novel application building energy model calibration. use well-calibrated simulation models key for successful buildings' retrofit operation management and techniques can improve reliability results. method consists analysis all...

Shading control strategies are often required to optimize the balance between solar gains, daylight availability, glare protection, and view outside. Automated shading operation, when properly designed, may avoid performance losses due manual operation while maintaining indoor environmental comfort. In this work, integrated of different glazing systems coupled with three approaches for roller shades is presented a typical office space. The first standard open–closed based on workplane...

Students in classrooms are exposed to environmental stimuli the thermal, visual, acoustic and air quality domains, which affect their overall comfort performance. Therefore, recent studies, questionnaires used collect information about subjective perceptions investigate links with physical parameters. Most field studies educational buildings either focus on a single domain, or consider multiple domains but provide inconsistent questions among 4 (i.e., IAQ, visual acoustic). Very few have...

Listening effort describes the allocation of attentional and cognitive resources for successful listening. In adverse conditions, mental demands listening increase, interfering with other functions. This is especially relevant in learning spaces, where complex tasks that recruit more (e.g. memorization information comprehension) are performed by students. study focuses on case university classrooms investigates effects different types masking noise both speech intelligibility effort....

IEA IBC Annex 56 methodology provides the basis for assessment and evaluation of energy related renovation options residential building stock, first foremost with respect to cost, use carbon emissions. Furthermore, it allows also a broader approach going beyond cost effective reduction emissions by taking into account co-benefits achieved in process. Besides impact indicators primary use, costs methodological framework integrating at least embodied measures as part lifecycle assessment. The...

There are several methods in the literature for definition of weather data building energy simulation and most popular ones, such as typical meteorological years European test reference years, based on Finkelstein–Schafer statistics. However, even starting from same multi-year series, developed can present different levels representativeness, which affect outcome. In this work, we investigated to extent uncertainty determination conditions results refurbishment when cost-optimal approach is...

The refurbishment of existing buildings allows remarkable improvements in energy performance, even by mature and off‐the‐shelf technologies. However, the pursuit nearly zero renovation can lead to non-optimal solutions terms comfort. Besides, initial cost limit owner refurbishing or drive choice toward energy-efficiency measures with minimum at expense non-energy performances. In this regard, financial incentives be a key driver stimulate renovation, mobilizing private investments overcoming...

Driven by architectural trends and the need to maximize daylight, commercial building façades have become more transparent. High-performance include spectrally selective glazing systems, dynamic elements insulated spandrel sections. Nevertheless, it is generally accepted that, compared standard, traditional opaque construction, modern transparent envelopes result in increased overall energy use these buildings. In this paper, façade treated as a part of perimeter zone, which also includes...