Review
Construction & Building Technology
Chun Yin Siu, William O'Brien, Marianne Touchie, Marianne Armstrong, Abdelaziz Laouadi, Abhishek Gaur, Zahra Jandaghian, Iain Macdonald
Summary: This paper provides a critical review of past modeling and simulation research on quantifying the thermal resilience of buildings and discusses future research needed to enhance practice and building codes. The paper defines a framework for building performance simulation-aided resilience quantification and reviews topics such as heat stress, resilience metrics, model assumptions, simulation tool capabilities, weather file selection, and visualization methods. The paper concludes with a discussion on fundamental research and future tool development needed to accelerate the transition from research to practice.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Anna Staszczuk, Tadeusz Kuczynski
Summary: This study compares the effects of PCM and reinforced concrete on the summer thermal performance of existing buildings, finding that reinforced concrete improves thermal performance significantly, while PCM may solidify during heat waves. It may not be possible to plan an optimum range of PCM melting temperatures effective throughout all summer months in a building without air conditioning.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Abel Sepulveda, Francesco De Luca, Jarek Kurnitski
Summary: This paper proposes a coupled method based on prediction formulas to assess daylight provision and overheating risk in buildings, which can be used for interior floor plan and window sizing design. The method can accurately calculate or graphically represent the minimum window-to-wall ratio for daylight requirements and maximum g-value for overheating protection. By minimizing design iterations and computational time, designers can achieve the combined fulfillment of daylight provision and overheating protection efficiently.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Anna Dudzinska, Tomasz Kisilewicz
Summary: This paper examines the issue of summer overheating in educational buildings, exploring alternative passive measures to reduce overheating, considering the feasibility of mechanical ventilation, night ventilation, and expensive heat pump installations with ground heat exchangers. The study concluded that the analyzed building could function successfully without the additional installation elements, proposing a proprietary tool for analyzing microclimate conditions.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Tony-Andreas Arntsen, Bozena Dorota Hrynyszyn
Summary: The study investigates the impact of window design on the overall performance of a building, emphasizing the importance of proper window design for daylight, thermal comfort, and energy consumption. It shows that better insulation and air-tight construction typically result in lower heating demand but also increase the risk of overheating. Revising the window design of a building can improve its overall performance, and national standards should better consider factors such as thermal comfort and daylight.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Rui Bo, Wen-Shao Chang, Yang Yu, Yitong Xu, Haibo Guo
Summary: Given the forecasts of global warming and heatwaves, concern is growing about the exacerbation of overheating in dwellings in severe cold and cold regions of China. However, this concern has been neglected by Chinese national building codes and standards. This research aims to reveal overheating risk in these regions of China and identify deficiencies in local standards using validated simulation results and empirical data.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Yuanyuan Zhang, Jiachang Guo, Zhen Wang, Peng Luo, Yun Xia, Jing Liu, Ye Tian
Summary: Composite ice shell buildings, found in severe cold regions, have become significant in ice and snow tourism due to their ability to offer tourists a romantic and novel experience. In a field study conducted in Harbin, China, the thermal environment of a typical composite ice shell building was examined. The results showed significant differences in thermal properties between composite and plain ice, with a lower thermal conductivity for composite ice. Additionally, a questionnaire survey was conducted to study the thermal sensation and comfort of tourists.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Olivier Dartevelle, Geoffrey van Moeseke, Erwin Mlecnik, Sergio Altomonte
Summary: This study evaluates the summer thermal comfort of 23 nZEB houses in Wallonia and finds that despite the temperate climate, summer thermal discomfort is frequent. The results emphasize the importance of better integrating environmental controls even in temperate climates to mitigate overheating risks in nZEB houses.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Yang Yu, Yu Shao, Bolun Zhao, Jiahui Yu, Haibo Guo, Yang Chen
Summary: This study aims to reveal the overheating risk in the severe cold region of China in recent and future climates. An 18-storey residential building in the region was monitored to validate simulation data of indoor temperature. Simulation was conducted using weather files from 2007 to 2020, observations in 2021, and climate forecasts for different carbon emission scenarios (2030, 2060). The results showed the severity of overheating risk and the importance of low carbon emissions policies and adjustments in design standards.
Article
Thermodynamics
Tadeusz Kuczynski, Anna Staszczuk
Summary: The main objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of PCM and traditional masonry construction on the summer thermal performance of the non-air-conditioned residential building in a temperate climate. The results of the study indicate significantly higher effectiveness of traditional high thermal capacity building materials than PCMs for lowering high indoor temperatures in summer.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Tadeusz Kuczynski, Anna Staszczuk, Piotr Ziembicki, Anna Paluszak
Summary: This paper demonstrates the effectiveness of increasing the thermal capacity of a residential building using traditional building materials to reduce the risk of excessive overheating during heat waves. Results show that increasing thermal mass can significantly reduce the risk of overheating. Additionally, the study found that occupant behavior has a significant impact on the effectiveness of night ventilation and external blinds.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Xiaomeng Chen, Xudong Yang
Summary: The paper proposes a novel solar collector module to address the mismatch between seasonal solar energy availability and demand loads, achieving high efficiency in winter and cooling effect in summer.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Radoslav Ponechal, Peter Barnak, Pavol Durica
Summary: This study focuses on the Research Centre building of the University of Zilina, examining the impact of the building envelope and infill cooling system on the indoor environment. Through measurements and simulations, it was found that choosing appropriate personal factors can reduce the differences between the measurement and simulation results.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Marc-Steffen Fahrion, Christoph Nickl, Deekshitha Bangalore, Michael Lakatos, Moritz Brombacher
Summary: Research has shown that in a typical residential area in Germany, greening buildings and outdoor facilities can effectively reduce summer overheating, enhance biodiversity, and improve air quality.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Olivier Dartevelle, Sergio Altomonte, Gabrielle Masy, Erwin Mlecnik, Geoffrey van Moeseke
Summary: This study evaluates the potential of a typical nZEB house in providing summer thermal comfort in a changing climate in Wallonia, Belgium. The study finds that the passive strategies currently used may not be sufficient to ensure thermal comfort, especially in the bedroom, and suggests the need for additional strategies to limit the use of active cooling systems.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Shelly L. Miller, William W. Nazaroff, Jose L. Jimenez, Atze Boerstra, Giorgio Buonanno, Stephanie J. Dancer, Jarek Kurnitski, Linsey C. Marr, Lidia Morawska, Catherine Noakes
Summary: This study discusses a case transmission event in the Skagit Valley Chorale during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, identifying aerosol transmission as a likely main pathway and proposing ways to reduce infection risk by adjusting factors such as ventilation rate and event duration.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Kaiser Ahmed, Jarek Kurnitski
Summary: The comparison of building energy efficiency in different climates is a growing issue. This study developed a new equation to assess optimal insulation for building envelope in different climates for office buildings, avoiding the use of a base temperature and validated through sensitivity analyses. The developed method allows objectively to compare optimal insulation of building envelope in different climates, with maximum 5% underestimation and maximum 7% overestimation of U-value.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Alo Mikola, Anti Hamburg, Kalle Kuusk, Targo Kalamees, Hendrik Voll, Jarek Kurnitski
Summary: This study analyzed the impact of ventilation requirements set in the conditions of a renovation grant on indoor environment through field measurements. The results showed that proper renovation measures can improve indoor air quality and air change rate. Room-based ventilation requirements, heat recovery and preheating measures, as well as inspection of design documentation ensured adequate ventilation and IAQ in the renovation process.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Hatef Hajian, Raimo Simson, Jarek Kurnitski
Summary: Space Heating (SH) substations in District Heating-based (DH) systems are often oversized and have high DH design flow rates due to the lack of accounting for internal and solar heat gains. A dynamic heating control algorithm and flow limiters can potentially reduce the required DH power.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Karl-Villem Vosa, Andrea Ferrantelli, Jarek Kurnitski
Summary: Climate change has brought attention to the need for cooling living spaces, and this study measured the thermal comfort and cooling emission efficiency of different devices. The results showed that ceiling panels and fan radiators performed the best.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Abel Sepulveda, Francesco De Luca, Toivo Varjas, Jarek Kurnitski
Summary: This study focuses on the applicability of the European standard EN 17037:2018 in the Estonian cultural context, comparing the subjective perception of office users with the quantitative assessment defined by EN 17037:2018, finding a good agreement in terms of daylight provision and glare protection between users and the standard.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Andrea Ferrantelli, Jarek Kurnitski
Summary: This study tested the impact of different energy performance certificate (EPC) label classifications on building renovation progress and estimated their effects on the national building stock to achieve European climate goals. Results indicate the need for a unified strategy to promote renovation campaigns.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Paula Sankelo, Kaiser Ahmed, Alo Mikola, Jarek Kurnitski
Summary: The Finnish government launched subsidies for private homeowner energy renovations, and this study reveals that using ground-source heat pumps with additional insulation and heat recovery measures can significantly reduce energy consumption.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Amar Aganovic, Guangyu Cao, Jarek Kurnitski, Pawel Wargocki
Summary: In this study, we improved the Wells Riley model by incorporating new data on viral load, aerosol droplet sizes, and removal mechanisms. We introduced several novel elements, including a new model for calculating respiratory fluid volume, a viral dose-based generation rate model for dehydrated droplets, a quanta-RNA relationship for various SARS-CoV-2 strains, and a method for accounting for incomplete mixing conditions. These improvements allowed for more accurate estimation of quanta emission rates and the potential impact of ventilation and removal mechanisms.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Tuule Mall Parts, Andrea Ferrantelli, Hendrik Naar, Martin Thalfeldt, Jarek Kurnitski
Summary: This study investigates the impact of increasing detail in modelling underfloor heating control on a simulated room's energy and temperature performance. Empirical models of wax motor and valve curve were developed and calibrated through experiments. The On/Off and proportional-integral (PI) control processes were implemented and tested at different levels of modelling detail. The biggest impact was found in the On/Off control dead band and PI parameters, which reduced energy use and temperature fluctuations. Modulating the PI output signal increased temperature fluctuations and space heating demand. The wax actuator had minimal impact but caused time delays and changes in mass flows.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING PERFORMANCE SIMULATION
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Jarek Kurnitski, Martin Kiil, Alo Mikola, Karl-Villem Vosa, Amar Aganovic, Peter Schild, Olli Seppanen
Summary: Ventilation, air filtration and disinfection are found to be the main measures to control airborne respiratory infection transmission in shared indoor spaces. A new infection risk-based ventilation design method is proposed, which includes explicit target ventilation rate equations, implementation of pre-symptomatic period infection risk control, application of point source ventilation effectiveness, and measurement method for ventilation effectiveness. Results show that existing ventilation is enough in classrooms and offices, but higher ventilation is needed in meeting rooms, restaurants, and gyms.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Martin Timusk, Janis Locs, Triin Kangur, Aarne Kasikov, Jarek Kurnitski, Andris Sutka
Summary: A concept of preparing thermally responsive hydrogels with rapid and reversible light scattering switching is presented. The material exhibits a luminous transmittance of over 95% and solar energy modulation of 59.91%, and the transition temperature can be chosen in a wide range by adjusting the pH and additives in the hydrogel solution. The unique thin layer on the surface, scalability to large surface areas, and robust and fast response make this material highly potential for smart window technology applications.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Andrea Ferrantelli, Juri Belikov, Eduard Petlenkov, Martin Thalfeldt, Jarek Kurnitski
Summary: Evaluating the energy performance of existing buildings is crucial for improving the efficiency and resilience of the building stock. This study analyzed an EPC national database from Estonia to assess the readiness of the building stock and predict future trends. The findings indicate that all new and renovated buildings are estimated to become zero-energy buildings by 2050, with varying results for different building types and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Proceedings Paper
Construction & Building Technology
Raimo Simson, Kirsten Engelund Thomsen, Kim Bjarne Wittchen, Jarek Kurnitski
Summary: This study analyzed the performance requirements and calculation methods for NZEB in Oceanic and Nordic countries, finding that Estonian standards meet EC recommendations while Oceanic countries struggle to meet them.
COLD CLIMATE HVAC & ENERGY 2021
(2021)
