bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quantile regression using gradient boosted decision trees for daily residential energy load disaggregation
Authors: Delcroix B , Sansregret S , Larochelle Martin G , Daoud A 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
The building sector is responsible for approximately one-third of the total energy consumption, worldwide. This sector is undergoing a major digital transformation, buildings being more and more equipped with connected devices such as smart meters and IoT devices. This transformation offers the opportunity to better monitor and optimize building operations. In the province of Quebec (Canada), most buildings are equipped with smart meters providing electricity usage data every 15 minutes. A current major challenge is to disaggregate the different energy use from smart meter data, a discipline called non-intrusive load monitoring in literature. In this work, the aim is to develop and validate a potentially generalizable model for all houses that identifies the daily share of each energy use based on building information, weather data and smart meter data. Input features are selected and ordered using an aggregated score composed of the correlation coefficient, the feature importance given by a decision tree, and the predictive power score. Two modelling methods based on quantile regression are tested: linear regression (LR) and gradient boosted decision trees (GBDT). Compared to ordinary least squares regression, quantile methods inherently provide more robustness and confidence intervals. Both models are trained and validated using separate datasets collected in 8 houses in Canada where metering and sub-metering were performed during a whole year. Results on the test dataset indicate a better performance of the GBDT model, compared to the LR model, with a coefficient of determination of 0.88 (vs. 0.78), a mean absolute error of 6.34 % (vs. 8.89 %) and a maximum absolute error between the actual and predicted values in 95 % of the cases of 17.2 % (vs. 23.1 %).
The ZEB Laboratory: the development of a research tool for future climate adapted zero emission buildings
Authors: Nocente A , Time B , Mathisen HM , Kvande T , Gustavsen A 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
The building sector is responsible for approximately 40 % of the energy consumption and carbon emissions worldwide. Buildings of the future will have to comply not only with stricter energy regulations, but they will also have to face changing climate challenges. To increase the level of interdisciplinary knowledge and to develop and test innovative technology with users, new types of adaptive research facilities are needed. The development of the ZEB Laboratory replies to this need. Developing the building as a research tool has made us focus on 1) a flexible laboratory for tomorrow building design research and 2) making the building itself a climate adapted zero emission building. The laboratory building is realised following the Norwegian ZEB-COM ambition. The development of this research tool has called for an iterative approach with use of partnering and collaborative elements for planning and production. Connected challenges related to e.g. research facility needs, building process, building physics, flexibility of use, energy supply and indoor environment had to be solved through iterations and co-creation processes. This paper presents a modern research tool for climate adaptation and mitigation measures for buildings including stormwater management at site and assesses the development and building process of the laboratory.
The Costs, Benefits and Stakeholder Analysis of an Irish Social Housing Deep Energy Retrofit Case Study
Authors: Colclough Shane 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
This paper analyses the results of a pilot deep energy retrofit (DER) implementation including the financial perspectives of the stakeholders with the aim of assisting DER policy development. The Multiple Beneficiary Analysis (MBA) provides technical and energetic details for a recent 12-unit DER social housing project and quantifies the multiple direct and indirect benefits – e.g. financial, economic and societal to enable a stakeholder (beneficiary) analysis. The analysis is apposite given the urgent need for effective policy development in order to enable the achievement of the low-energy retrofit mandated by the EU. The MBA finds that the stakeholder who benefits most (the tenant) makes no financial contribution to the higher standards and while the Central Exchequer also benefits significantly, the stakeholder who makes the upgrade decision (landlord) is financially dis-incentivised. Given the significant benefits which accrue to the Central Exchequer, there is an opportunity for strategic investment by the government to unlock the benefits of low energy dwellings. This would simultaneously realise ongoing financial benefits, “seed” the capability within industry and crucially increase the knowledge and understanding of low energy dwellings which is necessary to enable widespread adoption. The key finding is that despite potential returns of approximately twice the investment, and the urgent need to retrofit existing buildings, the required DER uptake is unlikely as the decision-makers require financial support to unleash the multiple benefits of energy efficient dwellings. A self-financing support is suggested for the case study for consideration.
Experimental and numerical assessment for HVAC management in an industrial building: a preliminary optimization
Authors: Stamponi E , Lattanzi N , Moretti E 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
COVID-19 emergency has caused major changes in everyday life in the last months, and it also affected the management of buildings. In particular, indoor air quality and ventilation have been considered to play a key role in the spreading of the infection, causing national and international subjects to draw up specific guidelines on ventilation and air recirculation rate in AHUs. The paper deals with the “Loccioni Leaf Lab”, an industrial building that hosts offices and workers operating on test benches. The building features high performance envelope, solar photovoltaic systems, groundwater heat pumps and a high-technology control and monitoring system and it is connected to a thermal and electric smart grid. A validated model of the building, implemented with the software DesignBuilder and EnergyPlus, was used to carry out numerical simulations to optimize the management of the HVAC through the Building Management System. Different working conditions have been simulated, and the numerical output has been used together with experimental data collected from the Company monitoring system. It has been possible to investigate how the extra ventilation required by the new guidelines would affect the total energy consumption and to compare, in terms of energy efficiency, the different HVAC management strategies that could be used to ensure occupants health safety and indoor air quality.
Analysing energy upgrading projects of single-family houses towards a Norwegian nZEB level
Authors: Moschetti R , Time B , Gullbrekken L , Heide V , Georges L , Lien Anne G 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
As the existing building stock is responsible for high energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, energy upgrading projects have been acknowledged as crucial for the energy performance improvement of existing buildings, as well as for environment preservation and rational use of resources. The aim of this article is to investigate the definition of a nearly zero-energy building (nZEB) level for the energy upgrading of single-family houses. In particular, the findings from a research project, i.e., “energy upgrading of wooden dwellings to nearly zero energy level” (OPPTRE), are presented and discussed. A core task of OPPTRE was to carry out an architectural competition, where six interdisciplinary teams proposed innovative solutions for upgrading to a nZEB level representative Norwegian wooden single-family houses, from the period 1950-1990. The upgrading measures proposed in the OPPTRE competition focused on several aspects, such as architectural quality, indoor thermal environment, energy use/generation, carbon footprint, and cost effectiveness. General principles for a nZEB level achievement in upgrading projects are discussed in this article, as deducted from the evaluation of the results of the OPPTRE architectural competition. In particular, the focus is on examining the solutions proposed for upgrading building envelope and technical building systems. Energy use, energy generation, investment costs, and CO2 emissions are examined across the various OPPTRE projects, striving to define a trade-off among different parameters for the achievement of a nZEB level. The findings of this paper support the creation of knowledge in nearly zero-energy upgrading of wooden single-family houses, aiming to a more systematic definition of a nZEB level in such projects. This can be relevant for several stakeholders, such as governmental institutions, homeowners, builders, and private or public decision makers, towards the market uptake of nZEB upgrading by 2030.
Numerical assessment of self-sufficiency of residential buildings in Belgium by using heat pumps, photovoltaic panels and energy storages
Authors: Simic Katarina , Thiers Klaas , Montyne Hugo , Desmet Jan , De Paepe Michel 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Residential buildings claim a significant share of the total energy use worldwide. In order to have more realistic energy performance predictions, increased attention is paid to the analysis of the building’s energy use through comprehensive, transient detailed numerical simulations. In this article, the self-consumption and self-sufficiency values of three detached residential buildings are assessed through numerical models made in the programming language Modelica and software tool Dymola. The three buildings have the same structure and different space heating energy demands of 15 kWh/m2year, 30 kWh/m2year and 45 kWh/m2year. The energy use of the buildings coincides with the occupancy profile where domestic hot water use dominates over the space heating demand provided by an air to water heat pump. The discrepancy between renewable energy production and energy consumption is mitigated by means of thermal load shifting and electrical energy storage. In this research, the self-consumption and self-sufficiency of the studied buildings have been analysed as a function of the economically favourable energy storage sizing. For the use of an electrical battery with the installed capacity of 2.5 kWh and thermal energy storage of 250 l, the self-sufficiency results to be 40%, 38.5% and 37% for the three buildings respectively at the specific simulated energy demand conditions.
Thermal behavior of light earth used for building insulation: Insight on PCM introduction impact
Authors: Alassaad Farjallah , Touati Karim , Levacher Daniel , Sebaibi Nassim 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
To reduce building significant contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, architects and engineers are seeking eco-friendly construction solutions. Among investigated options, building’s thermal insulation and heat storage can be cited.
In this regard, earth-based materials are attracting particular interest. These last years, there is a renewed interest in these eco-friendly building materials and techniques. This is due to many advantages that they present: excellent humidity regulation ability and high thermal inertia. Present study aims to improve light earth thermal properties. Specifically, this research work focuses on the development of an insulating and heat storing material. To achieve this, phase change materials (PCM) are incorporated in soil-natural fiber mixtures.
In fact, different light earth samples are first prepared. Then, thermally characterized to highlight the impact of PCM on the light earth thermal insulating, heat storing properties and thermal response to changing boundary conditions. The incorporation of PCM showed an interesting improvement of the light earth thermal properties namely on thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, and thermal comfort time.
Condensation performance of superhydrophobic aluminium surface material used for cooled ceiling panels under highly humid indoor conditions
Authors: Zhong Z W , Niu J L , Ma W , Yao S H , Yang M , Wang Z K 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
The application of radiant cooling systems is very limited in hot and humid areas due to condensation. Research on superhydrophobic surface (SHS) materials has shown the potential of restricting the size of condensate drops on these materials, which provides possibilities for preventing dripping and thereby alleviating condensation risks for cooled ceiling panels, but there are few studies on the anti-condensation performance of these materials under the scale and conditions of building applications. An experimental study of condensation on superhydrophobic materials under indoor conditions is presented in this article. Two material samples with a size of 2.5 cm, including a superhydrophobic aluminum sheet and a pure aluminium sheet, were affixed on a cooled ceiling panel to perform the experiment under the following condition: temperature is 25°C ± 0.5°C, relative humidity is 80% ± 5%, and air dew point is 21.4°C. The panel was cooled by chilled water of 6°C for eight hours. The measured temperature on sample surfaces was about 13.5°C during the experiment. After eight-hour condensation, the diameter of drops on the superhydrophobic aluminum sheet was less than 150 μm, while the max drop on the pure aluminum sheet was near 4 mm. The results suggested that the size of condensate drops on superhydrophobic surface materials can be largely restricted during a long-time indoor operation below the dew point, which shows their potential for constructing condensation-free radiant cooling panels.
Passive evaporative cooling through water-filled bricks: a preliminary investigation
Authors: Tejero-González A , Nocera F , Costanzo V , Velasco-Gómez E 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Direct evaporative cooling is widely known to be an energy efficient air-conditioning option for arid and semi-arid climates. However, care must be taken on humidity ranges achieved indoors. Existing literature presents several options for integrating evaporative cooling within buildings for passive cooling applications. This work aims at expanding the current knowledge by focusing on the use of water-filled hollow bricks to implement evaporative cooling of air in contact with the brick’s surfaces. A prototype is built and experimentally characterized under controlled air velocity, air temperature and relative humidity conditions. Results on the psychrometric conditions achieved under different geometric arrangements (i.e., with one, two or three rows of four bricks each) are presented and discussed. Insights on likely building integration of the system for passive cooling purposes in farms and agriculture applications are eventually given.
Towards multifunctional building elements: thermal activation of a composite interior GFRP slab
Authors: Khovalyg D , Mudry A , Pugin M , Keller T 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Modular multifunctional building elements can overcome major disadvantages of the traditional sequential design and become prospective design solutions for sustainable construction. Thus, this work explores lightweight glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) profiles capabilities as multifunctional load-bearing slab modules in buildings. By adding water channels in a cellular structure of pultruded GFRP elements, hydronic radiant thermal conditioning of the indoor space can be enabled. Additionally, the water channels can protect critical slabs in case of a fire. A preliminary design of a multifunctional GFRP slab is performed for an office case study building by modifying a commercial slab profile with triangular channels. The thermal design load of the slab unit is determined using Rhino 6, and heat conduction and convective heat transfer for ceiling cooling and floor heating/cooling cases are investigated using ANSYS Fluent. The results show that a commercial GFRP profile can be modified to accommodate water channels and provide adequate heating and cooling at the upper or lower face. In addition, Serviceability Limit State is verified and required water flow adjustment in case of a fire outbreak scenario is discussed. Thus, the GFRP radiant slab has the potential as a pre-fabricated alternative for traditional embedded radiant systems.
In-situ performance evaluation of historic box-type windows with vacuum glazing
Authors: Schuss Matthias , Pont Ulrich , Wölzl Magdalena , Schober Peter , Mahdavi Ardeshir 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Climate protection objectives and energy efficiency targets imply stricter performance expectations from both new and retrofit building projects. Given the related important role of the building envelope, there is a need for a holistic approach to the design, construction, as well as laboratory and field testing of buildings’ window and wall systems. In this context, the present contribution reports on recent efforts regarding the thermal retrofit of box-type windows. In the course of an actual research project, vacuum insulated glass (VIG) elements were integrated with ten existing box-type windows at six locations in Austria. To facilitate empirical testing and evaluation of these windows, a detailed concept for a continuous in-situ performance monitoring concept was designed and implemented together with the required monitoring infrastructure. This infrastructure involves the deployment of regular state-of-the-art IoT (Internet of Things) technology and enables the continuous monitoring of the salient performance indicators (including temperature, relative humidity, and heat flow). The derived values of performance indicators (such as the fRsi-value) can facilitate, among other things, the assessment of water vapor surface condensation risk. Collected data since mid-2020 cover both hot and cold weather periods have been analysed to capture performance differences between alternative vacuum glass settings at the testing locations. The alternative implementations pertain to different positions of the glazing layer (inside versus outside), different opening directions of the casements, and different positions of box-type within the opaque wall. Moreover, for comparison purposes, monitoring equipment was integrated into a comparable regular box-type window (with float glass or insulation glass) at each of the demonstration sites. Occurrences of potential visible or functional defects (including surface condensation) have been documented as well. The paper presents, analyses, and discusses the preliminary findings of this effort in detail.
Comfort and efficiency-based improvements to the control of residential Venetian blinds
Authors: Roberts J , De Michele G , Pernigotto G , Gasparella A , Avesani S 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
This study focuses on the control of movable Venetian blinds. Multiple improvements to an existing on/off open-loop control strategy in a case-study apartment have been simulated in TRNSYS 18, thanks to the detailed optical and thermal modelling allowed by the Bidirectional Scattering Distribution Function (BSDF) used as input to the Type56_CFS. The control strategy improvements include the combination of rule-based, closed-loop and discrete state control, in addition to four control strategy activation methods (three use a schedule, and one measures the external temperature). Simulated control inputs include internal temperature, external temperature and vertical irradiance. The results show reductions in overheating, achieved without completely blocking natural illumination or compromising heating demand. While on/off control in winter often leads to increased heating energy consumption, the space sees regular overheating when on/off control is inactive over winter. Conversely, discrete state control is able to more precisely control solar gains in winter to maintain an adequate temperature without utilising the heating system, all the while allowing some level of natural illumination. Ultimately, it is concluded that the choice of the control strategy depends on which objective (minimisation of heating energy consumption, maximisation of daylight harvesting, reduction of overheating risk, etc.) is prioritised.
Innovative approaches to thermochromic materials for adaptive building envelopes
Authors: Pérez G , Serra V , Garshasbi S , Favoino F , Sirvent P , Shah K W , La Roche P , Galán I , Santamouris M 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Thermochromic (TC) materials are characterized by a change of their optical response at a specific temperature. They can work based on both, the alteration of solar reflection by temperature, or the change of photoluminescence intensity. In building applications, this type of smart materials enhances the rejection of solar heat for high temperatures to favour cooling of the envelopes and reduces this rejection for low temperatures to improve surface heating. This adaptive optical response improves energy efficiency and reduces environmental impact of urban areas. Most of the current advances in this area are related to TC glazing based on Vanadium oxide, while opaque TC materials have been developed as based on Leuco dyes. The main drawback of these last materials is their significant aging in outdoor applications due to a photo-degradation process. The present work shows the recent results of a multidisciplinary and multinational consortium for research on innovative approaches to thermochromic materials for adaptive building envelopes. Next steps will be focused on building simulation to evaluate material choices across different performance aspects, while physical prototypes will be used for inter-laboratory evaluation of such performance and material durability.
Heat, Moisture and Airflow coupled Model for Historical Building
Authors: Zhao G L , Xie H R , xia C C , Hokoi S , Li Y H 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
The current building simulation of heat air and moisture (HAM) only regards the indoor air as homogeneous, which cannot accurately predict and evaluate the thermal and humid environment of complex historical buildings. In this study, the heat, moisture, and airflow coupled model (HAM-CFD model) was developed by FORTRAN programming, and then the simulation results of the HAM model and the HAM-CFD model were compared to study the characteristics of indoor environment under the action of airflow. The results show that there is a coupling effect between the indoor airflow and heat and moisture transfer of walls. The HAM-CFD model can reflect the temperature stability of the building center, and has a better correlation with rainfall. The HAM-CFD model can more truly reflect the changes of building temperature and moisture content in complex thermal and humid environment.