•We conducted a review of human thermal comfort in the built environment.•Our focus was to review papers published in the last 10 years.•We examined standards, productivity and human physiological ...models.•We also reviewed indoor experiments (laboratory and in the field) and outdoor ones.•Around 500 articles were included in this review paper.
The aim of this paper is to review the literature on human thermal comfort in the built environment. First an overview about the subject area is presented. This is followed by a review of papers published in the last 10 years that examine the various sub-areas of research related to human thermal comfort. Some remarkable works about both the Fanger's and adaptive thermal comfort models are also discussed. This review does not contain simulation works and/or experimental studies without subjective results of people. As a result of the literature review, 466 articles were classified and grouped to form the body of this article. The article examines standards, indoor experiments in controlled environments (climate chamber) and semi-controlled environments, indoor field studies in educational, office, residential and other building types, productivity, human physiological models, outdoor and semi-outdoor field studies. Several research topics are also addressed involving naturally ventilated, air-conditioned and mixed-mode buildings, personalized conditioning systems and the influence of personal (age, weight, gender, thermal history) and environmental (controls, layout, air movement, humidity, among others) variables on thermal comfort.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
In most of the countries, buildings are often one of the major energy consumers, leading to the necessity of achieving sustainable building designs, and to the mandatory use of building performance ...simulation (BPS) tools in order to retrofit or design new energy efficient buildings. In the last years, the use of artificial neural networks (ANNs) metamodels has increased and gained confidence in BPS applications thanks to their favorable trade-off between accuracy and computational cost. This paper presents a comprehensive and in-depth systematic review of the up-to-date literature related to the application and characterization of ANN-based metamodels for BPS. First, a general insight into the methodology of metamodel generation and ANN theory is presented. The ANN metamodels are classified according to the type of building they are addressed to, screening them by their inputs (building design variables or indicators to take a certain decision) and outputs (energy consumption, comfort index, climatic condition, environment performance). Then, all the stages for the generation of ANN-based metamodels (sampling methods, data pre-processing, architectures, activations functions, the process of training and testing, and the platforms and frameworks for their implementation) are presented giving a brief theoretical introduction and making a critical review of the literature linked to each stage. For each of these analyzed stages, summary tables and graphs are presented showing the distributions of different alternatives and trends. Finally, the current limitations and areas for further investigation are discussed.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
The interaction of energy and buildings institutes a complex socio-technical system that influences the eudemonic well-being of the occupants. Understanding these drivers become even more necessary ...in impoverished areas where occupants struggle to avail essential energy services. The literature indicates that energy injustice can be addressed through provisioning of comfort, cleanliness, and convenience (3Cs) as critical cultural energy services in low-income areas. This study investigates the socio-architectural influence for slum rehabilitation housing (SRH) on cultural energy services that can promote distributive justice. The methodology adopts an empirical route using data from 200 household surveys from SRH in Mumbai, India, and João Pessoa, Brazil. A model between the 3Cs and socio-architectural elements was established using Firth’s binary logistic regression. The survey results showed that the SRH in Brazil had twice the appliance ownership as compared to the Mumbai SRH. There were distinct energy service preferences in the study areas, despite common poverty burdens. The empirical results showed that the lack of socio-architectural design elements like open spaces, privacy, and walkability in the study areas demanded specific comfort and convenience appliances as a counter-response. A critical policy implication drawn was on the need for socio-architectural inclusive energy planning for distributive justice in poverty. Mitigating rising energy demand through appropriate built environment design of slum rehabilitation housing can contribute to fulfilling the UN’s SDG 7 (clean and affordable energy) and 11 (sustainable cities and communities) goals.
Climate change mitigation strategies are multifaceted and require collaboration among a range of stakeholder groups. The objective of this paper was to develop an overarching Renewable Energy and ...Energy Conservation Area Policy (REECAP) framework. The framework was developed based on a comprehensive literature review, in which seven principles for Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Policies were identified. The paper also includes a case study to demonstrate an application of the REECAP framework. The novelty of the framework stems from its integration of carbon-energy-cash flows among different decision-making spheres, scales and area specific characteristics. The framework provides a mathematical understanding of how energy strategies can be transformed and optimised in a cost-effective manner by integrating stakeholders under a shared vision.
•Identification of seven key principles for renewable energy and energy conservation.•Development of novel framework for renewable energy and energy conservation.•Integration of bottom-up and top-down drivers.•Transparent analysis of energy-carbon-cash flows among stakeholders.•Evidence-based decision making for continuous investment optimisation.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The residential energy consumption has been studied in many countries as it usually accounts for a large percentage of the total energy consumption. Energy end-uses have also been a matter of concern ...as they can assist energy system planning. The objective of this paper is to assess the actual scenario of electricity consumption and estimate electricity end-uses in the residential sector of Brazil for different bioclimatic zones. The analysis is based on a survey performed by 17 energy utilities enclosing a total of 17,643 houses or flats over 12 states in Brazil. The survey was performed to obtain electricity consumption data for all household appliances found in houses and flats. The electricity end-uses were estimated by performing weighted averages according to the location of the dwellings in each bioclimatic zone. Results indicate that the largest end-uses are for refrigerator and freezer together, which account for about 38–49% of the electricity consumption in dwellings in Brazil. Air-conditioning and electric shower are the end-uses that are more dependent on the climatic conditions. The main conclusion that can be made from the analysis is that air-conditioning should be a major concern in the residential sector of Brazil in the near future as its ownership is still low, but its electricity consumption is already significant mainly over summer.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
We present unprecedented datasets of current and future projected weather files for building simulations in 15 major cities distributed across 10 climate zones worldwide. The datasets include ambient ...air temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, direct and diffuse solar irradiance, and wind speed at hourly resolution, which are essential climate elements needed to undertake building simulations. The datasets contain typical and extreme weather years in the EnergyPlus weather file (EPW) format and multiyear projections in comma-separated value (CSV) format for three periods: historical (2001-2020), future mid-term (2041-2060), and future long-term (2081-2100). The datasets were generated from projections of one regional climate model, which were bias-corrected using multiyear observational data for each city. The methodology used makes the datasets among the first to incorporate complex changes in the future climate for the frequency, duration, and magnitude of extreme temperatures. These datasets, created within the IEA EBC Annex 80 "Resilient Cooling for Buildings", are ready to be used for different types of building adaptation and resilience studies to climate change and heatwaves.
O crescente aumento de consumo energético em edificações é uma questão preocupante. O modo como as edificações se comportam em relação ao clima em que estão inseridas é importante no seu consumo ...final, e assim, diretrizes iniciais de projeto voltadas ao seu comportamento térmico podem reduzir boa parte do consumo durante a operação. Isso porque essas diretrizes visam otimizar o desempenho das edificações, minimizando o uso de equipamentos de resfriamento para garantir o conforto dos usuários. No entanto, essas análises de desempenho térmico são realizadas com o projeto já consolidado, dificultando o alcance de bons níveis de desempenho e sem grande margem de alteração de projeto com este foco. Visando unir o processo a essas análises, o objetivo deste trabalho é o levantamento de dados sobre o processo de projeto de arquitetos para compreender quais parâmetros de desempenho já são considerados, quais outros poderiam ser incorporados, e quais as fases de maior relevância do ponto de vista térmico. Percebeu-se que os participantes deste estudo, apesar de considerarem relevante a avaliação de critérios como insolação e ventilação natural na concepção de projeto, o fazem com métodos pouco precisos. Além disso, evidenciou-se o desconhecimento de aspectos importantes, como a NBR 15575, a etiqueta de eficiência energética e o uso de simulações computacionais. Portanto, propõe-se uma estrutura de trabalho integrando as respostas sobre definições de projeto com os critérios de análise de desempenho. O desenvolvimento de uma estrutura de trabalho permitirá futuros experimentos de inserção de simulações no processo de projeto para validação.
•Consideration of urban modeling in computational simulations is essential for prediction of energy consumption.•Urban densification can be considered a good strategy to reduce cooling load for ...commercial buildings.•Considering vertical buildings, a denser urban context will lower the cooling load in hot and humid climates.
Urban densification is recommended as the most advantageous solution for the sustainable growth of cities. However, when considering energy consumption, its effects are perceived as complex and conflicting. Two of the main consequences of urban densification are changes in the climate resulting from the urban heat island (UHI) effect and in the incident solar radiation - resulting from the surroundings buildings geometry, which can affect the energy consumption of a building in opposite ways. In a hot climate region a decrease in the direct solar radiation could be a positive factor but the UHI effect would be negative in terms of reducing energy consumption. Thus, the overall effects of densification need to be evaluated for these regions. Herein, the influence of the urban environment geometry on the thermal load of office buildings in a city with a hot and humid climate was evaluated. Energy dynamics simulations were carried out by the modeling of the surrounding geometry and considering the UHI effect. When the urban environment was considered in the energy simulations average reductions in the thermal load of 16–18% were observed, highlighting the importance of this approach. Shading was found to be the major factor related to this reduction.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
•Understanding the human-building interactions in residential buildings has a high potential of energy saving.•Monitoring occupant behaviour in residential buildings presented challenges referring to ...movements between spaces, diversity of activities and, privacy issues.•Mixed-mode methods for monitoring occupant behaviour provided explanatory variables and allowed triangulation of monitoring results.•Occupancy and interactions with building devices are highly dependent on time, which was explored by stochastic modelling methods.•Occupant behaviour models provide the possibility to evaluate accurate scenarios for human-building interaction in order to enhance building energy performance.
Occupant behaviour has a direct impact on building energy consumption. A better understanding of human-building interactions enables to describe with higher accuracy the occupant behaviour. This paper addresses occupant behaviour in residential buildings, providing a review of current methods in (1) monitoring occupant behaviour, (2) developing occupant behaviour models, and (3) applying occupant behaviour models in building performance simulations. Occupant behaviour studies with focus on residential buildings are presented including both challenges and potential for improving building energy performance.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
In Brazilian towns and cities the greatest thermal gain occurs through the roof of single-storey buildings. In this regard, the use of thermal radiation barriers has the function of minimizing the ...heat flux through the roof. Even though the use of this type of thermal insulation has increased in recent years; there are still no technical standards which address the subject. Thus, many products have become available on the market which have the appearance of a radiant barrier, but without low emissivity, and not functioning properly as thermal insulation. The objective of this study is to analyze the efficiency of some types of radiant barriers found on the civil construction market, as well as to analyze the efficiency of sheets made from the joining together of a solid urban waste, long-live carton packaging,
in loco and in the laboratory. The
in loco measurements were carried out in a roof of a residence in the city of Florianópolis, where the heat flux, surface temperatures of the tiles and the ceiling, and the internal and external temperatures, were monitored. The laboratory experiments were carried out with an apparatus which simulates the thermal resistances of a real roof. The results allowed the verification of which is the best type of radiant barrier, that is, which achieves the greatest reduction in heat flux through the roof. This study also allowed a comparison between the
in loco and laboratory results.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
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