Article
Energy & Fuels
Emmanouil Thrampoulidis, Gabriela Hug, Kristina Orehounig
Summary: Coordinated large scale building retrofit is an effective approach for reducing the environmental impact of existing buildings and achieving climate goals. This paper proposes a bottom-up approach using a scalable building-level surrogate retrofit model based on artificial neural networks. The surrogate model can predict near-optimal retrofit solutions for all residential buildings in Switzerland with a small set of inputs and short run time. Validation results show that the surrogate model has an average coefficient of determination of 0.91 and an average f1 score of 0.89. It provides insights into the overall retrofit potential of large areas and supports reaching energy emission reduction targets of existing residential buildings.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Emmanouil Thrampoulidis, Georgios Mavromatidis, Aurelien Lucchi, Kristina Orehounig
Summary: This paper presents a surrogate model for evaluating the necessary building envelope and energy system measures for building retrofit, which aims to strike a balance between accuracy and computational cost. The case study in Zurich, Switzerland, shows that the surrogate model significantly reduces computational cost while maintaining high accuracy, indicating its potential for widespread use in accelerating retrofit measures.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Chirag Deb, Zhonghao Dai, Arno Schlueter
Summary: A data-driven, cost-optimal retrofit analysis framework based on machine learning techniques is proposed in this work to capitalize on the importance of input variables. Through feature selection and model development, the recurrent neural network is found to be the most accurate in predicting the target variable (space heating demand). The best retrofit strategy involves replacing the oil-based heating system with a brine-to-water heat pump and retrofitting the cellar ceiling with a U-value of 0.388 W/(m(2)*K).
Review
Construction & Building Technology
Yaik-Wah Lim, Heap-Yih Chong, Philip C. H. Ling, Cher Siang Tan
Summary: The use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) for green retrofitting is a recent development that offers integrated solutions for evaluating and monitoring the environmental sustainability performance of existing buildings. Despite the availability of centralized digital models, the actual applications of this technology are still limited and require further research and validation, with current studies in this area being mainly exploratory.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Tao Hai, A. S. El-Shafay, As 'ad Alizadeh, Kushagra Kulshreshtha, Sattam Fahad Almojil, Abdulaziz Ibrahim Almohana, Abdulrhman Fahmi Alali
Summary: Finding an optimal retrofit plan considering the environmental effects of existing buildings is crucial for dealing with the high costs associated with retrofitting. This paper presents a decision-making model that incorporates economic analysis to assist decision-makers in selecting the most appropriate retrofit options. The model uses an algorithm called Improved Locust Swarm Optimization to systematically determine optimal retrofit plans for buildings.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Nicholas Clemett, Wilson Wladimir Carofilis Gallo, Gerard J. O'Reilly, Giammaria Gabbianelli, Ricardo Monteiro
Summary: This study examines the impact of considering environmental impact (EI) as an additional decision variable in the selection of optimal retrofit alternatives for a reinforced concrete school building in Italy. The research findings suggest that the weights assigned to decision variables by the decision-maker significantly influence whether the inclusion of EI affects the choice of the optimal alternative.
ENGINEERING STRUCTURES
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Ji Hun Park, Umberto Berardi, Seong Jin Chang, Seunghwan Wi, Yujin Kang, Sumin Kim
Summary: This study analyzed the energy performance of apartment buildings using retrofit systems with phase change materials (PCMs) in relation to building orientation, height, and climate factors. The results showed that different building orientations and heights require different PCM application temperatures for energy savings, highlighting the need to consider variables such as building orientation, height, and climate factors for effective PCM application in apartment buildings.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Ling Jia, Queena K. Qian, Frits Meijer, Henk Visscher
Summary: This study focuses on key risks in residential building retrofit projects in China's hot summer and cold winter zone, with considerations of transaction costs. By identifying top risks through interviews and a questionnaire survey, the research aims to provide guidance for effective risk management in energy retrofit projects.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Maurizio Sibilla, Dhouha Touibi, Fonbeyin Henry Abanda
Summary: This study explores the feasibility of converting abandoned buildings into positive energy buildings and investigates the factors influencing the configuration of positive energy buildings. Through a case study of a former Italian industrial site, the research finds that rethinking abandoned buildings as positive energy buildings can drive the synchronized development of socio-technical evolution of energy infrastructure and urban regeneration plans.
Article
Thermodynamics
Y. Hong, Collins Ezeh, W. Deng, S-H Hong, Y. Ma, Y. Tang, Y. Jin
Summary: This study focuses on establishing a macro-scale evaluation approach for building retrofits to support policymaking in building energy conservation, management and sustainability. A model framework is proposed through an extensive optimization approach, which is validated by a case study analysis focused on identifying the optimal retrofit solution for lowrise office buildings in Shanghai. The study suggests that changes in occupancy regime, improvements in natural ventilation, heating and cooling systems, installation of cool roofs insulation, and utilization of renewable energy systems are basic retrofit measures for achieving maximum life-cycle benefits at a macro-scale level.
ENERGY CONVERSION AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Qiong He, Md Uzzal Hossain, S. Thomas Ng, Godfried Augenbroe
Summary: Sustainable building retrofit offers a critical opportunity to reduce energy consumption and improve energy performance, but faces challenges in identifying optimal measures due to climate-specific factors. A study in China has developed an integrated energy-cost model to select optimal retrofit solutions for high-rise residential buildings, providing practical guidance for decision-makers in achieving energy saving targets.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Dong Zhao, Yunjeong Mo
Summary: This study collects and evaluates data on energy use, building technology, and costs from 235 certified green homes in the United States. The findings show that retrofit projects cost, on average, 30% less than new projects, and 49% less if land costs are excluded. Retrofit projects use similar building technologies as new projects and produce larger energy savings. These findings contribute to cost management for complex building projects and energy policy for sustainable development.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Jon Fernandez-Luzuriaga, Luis del Portillo-Valdes, Ivan Flores-Abascal
Summary: The energy refurbishment of existing residential buildings faces challenges such as low replacement rates and high upfront investments. While the EU directive introduced the cost-optimal methodology, it has been limited to single buildings or building types. To address this, the research proposes applying the cost optimal method on an urban scale to determine suitable energy performance ranges for different building types, supporting decision-making for energy efficiency policies and investment mobilization.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Ciro Del Vecchio, Marco Di Ludovico, Andrea Prota
Summary: The study analyzed the cost and effectiveness of using FRP solutions to strengthen existing RC buildings, using data from the reconstruction process in L'Aquila to select 130 buildings strengthened with FRPs. This research provides valuable data for cost-benefit analyses of FRP systems in mitigating seismic risk on a large scale.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Mohamed Noureldin, Ammad Ali, Shabir Memon, Jinkoo Kim
Summary: This study proposes a framework that allows the allocation of preferred seismic fragility margin and provides optimal damping ratio for retrofit design using soft computing techniques. It uses a machine learning model to construct safety margin curves and a genetic algorithm for optimization. The framework aims to enable effective implementation of seismic safety in retrofitted structures with low computational cost.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Gerardo Maria Mauro, Marcello Iasiello, Nicola Bianco, Wilson K. S. Chiu, Vincenzo Naso
Summary: This paper proposes a comprehensive optimization framework for the design of graded foam-filled channels, which can enhance thermal performance of heat sinks. The study investigates both mono- and multi-objective optimizations to find the optimal tradeoffs between heat transfer enhancement and pressure drop reduction. The results provide valuable insights and guidelines for the thermal design of graded foam-filled channels.
Review
Construction & Building Technology
Fabrizio Ascione, Rosa Francesca De Masi, Margherita Mastellone, Giuseppe Peter Vanoli
Summary: A recent review of over 100 research papers on green building rating tools highlights neglected aspects in current rating systems, such as structural safety, vulnerability to calamitous events, indoor environmental quality, and adaptability. These issues have emerged as priorities during the pandemic.
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Fabrizio Ascione, Rosa Francesca De Masi, Antonio Gigante, Giuseppe Peter Vanoli
Summary: The paper focuses on evaluating the impact of climate change on nearly zero energy buildings and their energy balance resilience. A case study in a Mediterranean climate shows that reducing heating demand can compensate for increased cooling demand. However, the operating period of the cooling system may lead to indoor overheating issues.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Fabrizio Ascione, Nicola Bianco, Filippo de Rossi, Teresa Iovane, Gerardo Maria Mauro
Summary: In this study, the energy benefits of using a double-skin facade combined with an airflow network, control logic for opening windows, and transparent photovoltaic modules are evaluated. The results show that both passive and active facade solutions can significantly reduce energy consumption for space conditioning and total primary energy consumption. The best solution is achieved with the active facade and 80% coverage of PV modules on the double-skin facade, resulting in a maximum energy saving of approximately 20% in total primary energy consumption.
ENERGY SOURCES PART A-RECOVERY UTILIZATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Fabrizio Ascione, Rosa Francesca De Masi, Valentino Festa, Antonio Gigante, Silvia Ruggiero, Giuseppe Peter Vanoli
Summary: This paper discusses the operational performance of an existing nearly zero-energy building in the Mediterranean climate and highlights the inability to predict real performance during the design phase due to the influence of indoor and external conditions on the dynamic behavior of the building-HVAC system.
ENERGY SOURCES PART A-RECOVERY UTILIZATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Fabrizio Ascione, Rosa Francesca De Masi, Margherita Mastellone, Silvia Ruggiero, Giuseppe Peter Vanoli
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has created an economic crisis and had negative effects on the building sector. The European Union has implemented a strategic plan to address this crisis by promoting environmental sustainability and giving importance to the building sector. This study provides an overview of the implementation of European policies on building energy efficiency by EU countries and highlights the financial programs and incentives adopted to promote energy-efficient buildings.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Giuseppe Aruta, Fabrizio Ascione, Nicola Bianco, Teresa Iovane, Gerardo Maria Mauro
Summary: This study proposes a dynamic envelope based on the double-skin facade (DSF) technology as a retrofit measure for an existing building office in a Mediterranean climate. The proposed facade's responsiveness is achieved through controlled opening of windowed components and a shading system with dynamic activation controlled by temperature. Compared to the current state, the energy consumption for thermal load can be reduced by 17.8% to 37% and for cooling load by 9% to 3%, resulting in a total primary energy saving of 20%.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Fabrizio Ascione, Rosa Francesca De Masi, Valentino Festa, Gerardo Maria Mauro, Giuseppe Peter Vanoli
Summary: The study applies a simulation- and optimization-based framework for the model predictive control of space cooling systems. It provides optimal values of setpoint temperatures on a day-ahead planning horizon to minimize energy cost and thermal discomfort. The framework combines different thermal comfort models and uses a genetic algorithm for optimization. The results offer insights into the application of MPC for space cooling of nearly zero energy buildings in a balanced climate.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Giuseppe Aruta, Fabrizio Ascione, Nicola Bianco, Teresa Iovane, Margherita Mastellone
Summary: This paper investigates the energy retrofit of an educational building in Southern Italy and evaluates the role of incentives in achieving cost-effective nZEB. The results show that interventions on the opaque building envelope require a high incentive rate but have less energy savings. A 45% incentive rate for the energy efficiency of the transparent envelope is needed to reduce the payback time by about 7 years. The efficiency of the plants and the installation of a PV system are economically and energetically viable even without economic incentives. Finally, upgrading the building to high energy standards requires a 40% incentive rate to recoup the investment in about 10 years.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Nicola Bianco, Andrea Fragnito, Marcello Iasiello, Gerardo Maria Mauro, Luigi Mongibello
Summary: Choosing the right phase change material (PCM) is crucial for the effectiveness of thermal energy storage (TES) systems. Factors such as latent heat, stability, and melting point determine the choice of PCM for a specific application. However, subcooling phenomena can affect the energy storage/release and accuracy of modeling, highlighting the importance of understanding its effects on PCM performance.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Giuseppe Aruta, Fabrizio Ascione, Nicola Bianco, Teresa Iovane, Margherita Mastellone, Gerardo Maria Mauro
Summary: The decarbonization of the energy industry is important for achieving a future net-zero energy system. Sustainable energy technologies are necessary to enable citizens to contribute to the clean energy transition. This manuscript investigates alternative solutions for transforming a social housing district in Naples into a nearly zero-energy community.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Rosa Francesca De Masi, Gerardo Maria Mauro, Silvia Ruggiero, Francesca Villano
Summary: In this study, the SLABE methodology is used to simulate representative Italian buildings and predict the thermal energy demand and related primary energy consumption. New climatic stress indices are developed to improve the accuracy of the prediction. The proposed approach shows reliable performance when compared with another energy simulation tool.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Giuseppe Aruta, Fabrizio Ascione, Nicola Bianco, Gerardo Maria Mauro, Giuseppe Peter Vanoli
Summary: This study explores the use of machine learning techniques to predict the energy performance of a zero energy building in Benevento, Southern Italy. A simulation and optimization framework is used, with artificial neural networks and a genetic algorithm, to minimize heating energy costs and ensure thermal comfort. The results show that optimized control is crucial for sustainable building design, and the proposed framework can be implemented in real-time for model predictive control.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2023)
Article
Architecture
Katia Fabbricatti, Adelina Picone, Vincenzo Tenore, Fabrizio Ascione, Gilda Berruti, Enrico Formato, Cristina Mattiucci, Alessandro Sgobbo
TECHNE-JOURNAL OF TECHNOLOGY FOR ARCHITECTURE AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Fabrizio Ascione, Rosa Francesca De Masi, Nicoletta Del Regno, Filippo De Rossi, Antonio Gigante, Silvia Ruggiero
Summary: This paper proposes a numerical approach for selecting the optimal wall package made of GPC and PCMs in a Mediterranean climate. The approach consists of a parametric analysis and multi-objective optimization to determine the Pareto front solutions. Results show that the north or northeast exposure is the best for the proposed wall package, and reducing energy demand requires the adoption of two PCMs with a non-ventilated air gap.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Shitong Fang, Houfan Du, Tao Yan, Keyu Chen, Zhiyuan Li, Xiaoqing Ma, Zhihui Lai, Shengxi Zhou
Summary: This paper proposes a new type of nonlinear VIV energy harvester (ANVEH) that compensates for the decrease in peak energy output at low wind speeds by introducing an auxiliary structure. Theoretical and experimental results show that ANVEH performs better than traditional nonlinear VIV energy harvesters under various system parameter variations.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Wei Jiang, Shuo Zhang, Teng Wang, Yufei Zhang, Aimin Sha, Jingjing Xiao, Dongdong Yuan
Summary: A standardized method was developed to evaluate the availability of solar energy resources in road areas, which combined the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Geographic Information System (GIS). By analyzing critical factors and using a multi-indicator evaluation method, the method accurately evaluated the utilization of solar energy resources and guided the optimal location selection for road photovoltaic (PV) projects. The results provided guidance for the application of road PV projects and site selection for route corridors worldwide, promoting the integration of transportation and energy.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Chang Liu, Jacob A. Wrubel, Elliot Padgett, Guido Bender
Summary: The study investigates the effects of coating defects on the performance of the anode porous transport layer (PTL) in water electrolyzers. The results show that an increasing fraction of uncoated regions on the PTL leads to decreased cell performance, with continuous uncoated regions having a more severe impact compared to multiple thin uncoated strips.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Marcos Tostado-Veliz, Xiaolong Jin, Rohit Bhakar, Francisco Jurado
Summary: In this paper, a coordinated charging price mechanism for clusters of parking lots is proposed. The research shows that enabling vehicle-to-grid characteristics can bring significant economic benefits for users and the cluster coordinator, and vehicle-to-grid impacts noticeably on the risk-averse character of the uncertainty-aware strategies. The developed pricing mechanism can reduce the cost for users, avoiding to directly translate the energy cost to charging points.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Duan Kang
Summary: Building an energy superpower is a key strategy for China and a long-term goal for other countries. This study proposes an evaluation system and index for measuring energy superpower, and finds that China has significantly improved its ranking over the past 21 years, surpassing other countries.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Fucheng Deng, Yifei Wang, Xiaosen Li, Gang Li, Yi Wang, Bin Huang
Summary: This study investigated the synergistic blockage mechanism of sand and hydrate in gravel filling layer and the evolution of permeability in the layer. Experimental models and modified permeability models were established to analyze the effects of sand particles and hydrate formation on permeability. The study provided valuable insights for the safe and efficient exploitation of hydrate reservoirs.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Hao Wang, Xiwen Chen, Natan Vital, Edward Duffy, Abolfazl Razi
Summary: This study proposes a HVAC energy optimization model based on deep reinforcement learning algorithm. It achieves 37% energy savings and ensures thermal comfort for open office buildings. The model has a low complexity, uses a few controllable factors, and has a short training time with good generalizability.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Moyue Cong, Yongzhuo Gao, Weidong Wang, Long He, Xiwang Mao, Yi Long, Wei Dong
Summary: This study introduces a multi-strategy ultra-wideband energy harvesting device that achieves high power output without the need for external power input. By utilizing asymmetry, stagger array, magnetic coupling, and nonlinearity strategies, the device maintains a stable output voltage and high power density output at non-resonant frequencies. Temperature and humidity monitoring are performed using Bluetooth sensors to adaptively assess the device.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Tianshu Dong, Xiudong Duan, Yuanyuan Huang, Danji Huang, Yingdong Luo, Ziyu Liu, Xiaomeng Ai, Jiakun Fang, Chaolong Song
Summary: Electrochemical water splitting is crucial for hydrogen production, and improving the hydrogen separation rate from the electrode is essential for enhancing water electrolyzer performance. However, issues such as air bubble adhesion to the electrode plate hinder the process. Therefore, a methodology to investigate the two-phase flow within the electrolyzer is in high demand. This study proposes using a microfluidic system as a simulator for the electrolyzer and optimizing the two-phase flow by manipulating the micro-structure of the flow.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Shuo Han, Yifan Yuan, Mengjiao He, Ziwen Zhao, Beibei Xu, Diyi Chen, Jakub Jurasz
Summary: Giving full play to the flexibility of hydropower and integrating more variable renewable energy is of great significance for accelerating the transformation of China's power energy system. This study proposes a novel day-ahead scheduling model that considers the flexibility limited by irregular vibration zones (VZs) and the probability of flexibility shortage in a hydropower-variable renewable energy hybrid generation system. The model is applied to a real hydropower station and effectively improves the flexibility supply capacity of hydropower, especially during heavy load demand in flood season.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Zhen Wang, Kangqi Fan, Shizhong Zhao, Shuxin Wu, Xuan Zhang, Kangjia Zhai, Zhiqi Li, Hua He
Summary: This study developed a high-performance rotary energy harvester (AI-REH) inspired by archery, which efficiently accumulates and releases ultralow-frequency vibration energy. By utilizing a magnetic coupling strategy and an accumulator spring, the AI-REH achieves significantly accelerated rotor speeds and enhanced electric outputs.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Yi Yang, Qianyi Xing, Kang Wang, Caihong Li, Jianzhou Wang, Xiaojia Huang
Summary: In this study, a novel hybrid Quantile Regression (QR) model is proposed for Probabilistic Load Forecasting (PLF). The model integrates causal dilated convolution, residual connection, and Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BiLSTM) for multi-scale feature extraction. In addition, a Combined Probabilistic Load Forecasting System (CPLFS) is proposed to overcome the inherent flaws of relying on a single model. Simulation results show that the hybrid QR outperforms traditional models and CPLFS exceeds the best benchmarks in terms of prediction accuracy and stability.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Wen-Jiang Zou, Young-Bae Kim, Seunghun Jung
Summary: This paper proposes a dynamic prediction model for capacity fade in vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs). The model accurately predicts changes in electrolyte volume and capacity fade, enhancing the competitiveness of VRFBs in energy storage applications.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Yuechao Ma, Shengtie Wang, Guangchen Liu, Guizhen Tian, Jianwei Zhang, Ruiming Liu
Summary: This paper focuses on the balance of state of charge (SOC) among multiple battery energy storage units (MBESUs) and bus voltage balance in an islanded bipolar DC microgrid. A SOC automatic balancing strategy is proposed considering the energy flow relationship and utilizing the adaptive virtual resistance algorithm. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy in achieving SOC balancing and decreasing bus voltage unbalance.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Raad Z. Homod, Basil Sh. Munahi, Hayder Ibrahim Mohammed, Musatafa Abbas Abbood Albadr, Aissa Abderrahmane, Jasim M. Mahdi, Mohamed Bechir Ben Hamida, Bilal Naji Alhasnawi, A. S. Albahri, Hussein Togun, Umar F. Alqsair, Zaher Mundher Yaseen
Summary: In this study, the control problem of the multiple-boiler system (MBS) is formulated as a dynamic Markov decision process and a deep clustering reinforcement learning approach is applied to obtain the optimal control policy. The proposed strategy, based on bang-bang action, shows superior response and achieves more than 32% energy saving compared to conventional fixed parameter controllers under dynamic indoor/outdoor actual conditions.
