Integrating Virtual Reality and Energy Analysis with BIM to Optimize Window-to-Wall Ratio and Building’s Orientation for Age-in-Place Design at the Conceptual Stage

This study unfolds an innovative approach aiming to address the critical role of building design in global energy consumption, focusing on optimizing the Window-to-Wall Ratio (WWR), since buildings account for approximately 30% of total energy consumed worldwide. The greatest contributors to energy expenditure in buildings are internal artificial lighting and heating and cooling systems. The WWR, determined by the proportion of the building’s glazed area to its wall area, is a significant factor influencing energy efficiency and minimizing energy load. This study introduces the development of a semi-automated computer model designed to offer a real-time, interactive simulation environment, fostering improving communication and engagement between designers and owners. The said model serves to optimize both the WWR and building orientation to align with occupants’ needs and expectations, subsequently reducing annual energy consumption and enhancing the overall building energy performance. The integrated model incorporates Building Information Modeling (BIM), Virtual Reality (VR), and Energy Analysis tools deployed at the conceptual design stage, allowing for the amalgamation of owners’ inputs in the design process and facilitating the creation of more realistic and effective design strategies.

Solar Energy and Residential Building Integration Technology and Application

Building energy saving needs solar energy, but the promotion of solar energy has to be integrated with the constructions. Through analyzing the energy-saving significance of solar energy, and the status and features of it, this paper has discussed the solar energy and building integration technology and application in the residential building, and explored a new way and thinking for the close combination of the solar technology and residence.

Thermal performance of integration of solar collectors and building envelopes

The integration of building with solar collector was studied. The theoretical model of integration of building envelopes and flat plate solar collectors was set up and the thermal performance of integration was studied in winter and summer,and compared to envelopes without solar collectors. The results show that the solar collection efficiency is raised in the integration of building envelopes and solar collectors with the air layer doors closed. This is true whether in winter or summer. The increment is higher as the inlet water temperature increases or the ambient temperature is low. In winter,the heat loss is significantly reduced through integration of the building envelopes and solar collectors with the closed air layer doors. The integration with the open air layer door is worse than that without collectors. In summer,the heat gains of the integration of envelopes and solar collectors are more obviously reduced than envelopes without collectors,the integration with the open air layer door is a little better than the closed one,but the difference is very small.

Progress of semitransparent emerging photovoltaics for building integrated applications

With the rapid development of emerging photovoltaics technology in recent years,the application of building-integrated photovoltaics(BIPVs)has attracted the research interest of photovoltaic communities.To meet the practical application requirements of BIPVs,in addition to the evaluation indicator of power conversion efficiency(PCE),other key performance indicators such as heat-insulating ability,average visible light transmittance(AVT),color properties,and integrability are equally important.The traditional Si-based photovoltaic technology is typically limited by its opaque properties for application scenarios where transparency is required.The emerging PV technologies,such as organic and perovskite photovoltaics are promising candidates for BIPV applications,owing to their advantages such as high PCE,high AVT,and tunable properties.At present,the PCE of semitransparent perovskite solar cells(ST-PSCs)has attained 14%with AVT of 22–25%;for semitransparent organic solar cells(ST-OSCs),the PCE reached 13%with AVT of almost 40%.In this review article,we summarize recent advances in material selection,optical engineering,and device architecture design for high-performance semitransparent emerging PV devices,and discuss the application of optical modeling,as well as the challenges of commercializing these semitransparent solar cells for building-integrated applications.

A New Dynamic and Vertical Photovoltaic Integrated Building Envelope for High-Rise Glaze-Facade Buildings

Substantially glazed facades are extensively used in contemporary high-rise buildings to achieve attractive architectural aesthetics.Inherent conflicts exist among architectural aesthetics,building energy consumption,and solar energy harvesting for glazed facades.In this study,we addressed these conflicts by introducing a new dynamic and vertical photovoltaic integrated building envelope(dvPVBE)that offers extraordinary flexibility with weather-responsive slat angles and blind positions,superior architectural aesthetics,and notable energy-saving potential.Three hierarchical control strategies were proposed for different scenarios of the dvPVBE:power generation priority(PGP),natural daylight priority(NDP),and energy-saving priority(ESP).Moreover,the PGP and ESP strategies were further analyzed in the simulation of a dvPVBE.An office room integrated with a dvPVBE was modeled using EnergyPlus.The influence of the dvPVBE in improving the building energy efficiency and corresponding optimal slat angles was investigated under the PGP and ESP control strategies.The results indicate that the application of dvPVBEs in Beijing can provide up to 131%of the annual energy demand of office rooms and significantly increase the annual net energy output by at least 226%compared with static photovoltaic(PV)blinds.The concept of this novel dvPVBE offers a viable approach by which the thermal load,daylight penetration,and energy generation can be effectively regulated.

Research on Solar Water Heating System and Architectural Integration Design—A Case Study of Anqing Children Welfare Home

Taking the planning and major architectural design projects of Anqing Children Welfare Home for example,through the research on categories and each component of solar water heating system,the paper discussed strategies and methods to realize solar energy and architectural integration design in the climate condition and location environment of Anhui Province.

Economic Feasibility Assessment of Motorized PV Louver System Considering the Near Shading Parameter, Array Incidence Losses and Other Environmental Factors

Seoul has good weather settings for incorporating renewable energies, hence, given its small land area living mode was mostly set in an apartment condition it is an ideal place for building applied photovoltaic (BAPV) for solar energy harvesting. On the other hand, the BAPV energy self-consumption hasn’t been thoroughly examined considering the overall energy consumption requirement. Therefore, presented in this communication are the viability of PVL to produce electricity from solar energy and insights on modulating and improving energy harvesting efficiency. To accomplish this objective, three major factors were considered: 1) the photovoltaic (PV) positioning;2) the solar tracking scenario;and 3) the mechanistic system energy consumption. The overall louver energy generation was thoroughly scrutinized from the net energy conception of the BAPV up to the mechanistic module energy expenditure. This work intends to provide insights into the economic feasibility of BAPV assessing its technological profitability in the specified location and building size.

An overview of the policies and models of integrated development for solar and wind power generation in China

Under the goal of “Carbon Emission Peak and Carbon Neutralization”, the integrated development between various industries and renewable energy(photovoltaic, wind power) is of great significance in China. This paper summarizes the relevant policies, integration schemes and typical cases of the integrated development between renewable energy and other industries. First, the development status of wind and solar generation in China is introduced. Second, we summarize the relevant policies issued by the National Development and Reform Commission, National Energy Administration and other departments to promote the integrated development in photovoltaic and wind power generation in China. Third, eight kinds of photovoltaic three-dimensional development models are described, including “photovoltaic + agriculture, industry, environmental protection, transportation, architecture, communication, hydrogen and ecology”. Fourth, eight kinds of wind power threedimensional development models are summarized, including “Offshore wind power + marine ranch, marine energy, marine tourism, marine oil and gas, hydrogen, communication, Energy Island” and “Onshore wind power+ courtyard”. In the future, the promotion and application of the above integrated development projects will be accelerated. This overview aims to provide reference for the design in photovoltaic and wind energy systems and help potential investors to make decisions.

Research on Key Technologies of Solar Photovoltaic Building Integration

On December 21,2020,The State Council Information Office issued a white paper titled"China's Energy Development in the New Era,"in which the installed capacity of hydropower,wind power,photovoltaic power and biomass power generation in China ranked first in the world[1].Solar photovoltaic power generation is the most important development direction of clean energy in the world.It is an important energy strategy to combine it with the field of construction in China.This paper mainly introduces the characteristics and problems of the key technologies of solar photovoltaic building integration,and explores its future development direction and ways,in order to constantly promote the industrialization of new energy technology in China.

Evaluating Economic and Environmental Benefits of Integrating Solar Photovoltaics within Future Residential Buildings in Saudi Arabia

Renewable energy options, including solar power, are becoming increasingly viable alternatives to conventional sources of energy, such as oil, coal and natural gas. Solar Photovoltaic （PV） technology is one type of solar energy technologies that has recently received substantial attention because it offers the possibility of providing clean power sources for buildings. The aim of this paper is to examine the economic viability of using solar PV within future residential buildings in the oil-rich Saudi Arabia. Strictly speaking, the prospects of using the PV in order to provide 10% of the electricity to be consumed in the houses, which are going to be built in Sandi Arabia over the period 2010-2025, are examined. The study reveals that significant economic and environmental benefits could be realized as a result of such an endeavor.

The Study of Thermal Mass as a Passive Design Technique for Building Comfort and Energy Efficiency

The day/night （diurnal） changes in temperature and solar radiation pose challenges for maintaining human thermal comfort in buildings. Passive and energy-conserving buildings seek to manage the available thermal energy by lowering peaks and dampening the fluctuations in order to maintain conditions for human comfort. Appropriate use of thermal mass moderates the internal temperatures by averaging diurnal extremes. Thermal mass is one of the powerful tools which architects and designers can use to control temperature. It can be used to optimize the performance of energy-conserving buildings that rely primarily on mechanical heating and cooling strategies. Massive building envelopes-such as masonry, concrete, earth, and insulating concrete forms （ICFs） can be utilized as one of the simplest ways of reducing building heating and cooling loads. This article analyses the role and effectiveness of thermal mass as a strategy for providing indoor thermal comfort for passive solar and energy conserving buildings.

A Review of Applied Methods of Using Solar Energy in Iranian Buildings

Solar energy is the radiant light and heat from the Sun that has been harnessed by human since ancient times. Also secondary solar resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectric power and biomass account for most of the available renewable energy on Earth, which can be used by human. Architects since alacient times have used various methods to hamesse and employ the solar energy for lighting, cooling and heating and etc. Meanwhile, Iran＇s ancient architecture, as an adaptive one, which consists of various climatic reigns, is filled with abounding examples of using sun energy in buildings. But, unfortunately despite these ancient methods, our modern architects mostly tend to provide energy of buildings with fossil fuels. This increases energy costs of the building＇s and also pollutes the environment. In this article it is intended to consider the ancient ways of using solar energy in Iran, and then suggest new methods for applying in modem buildings. The results of consideration show that among Solar technologies, passive and active methods, Iran＇s ancient architects have used passive methods, for example in mass and space, orientation and settlement of building. The idea of passive methods can be used in new shapes in current buildings, for instance by using solar space, central yard and etc. The suggestive method in this paper is combining the passive methods with the active ones.

Plus Energy Buildings:A Numerical Case Study

The feasibility of Plus Energy Building for a sample relevant case is investigated.After a literature review aimed to identify key aspects of this type of buildings,a preliminary evaluation of the thermal performance of a building constructed using conventional material is presented together with a parametric analysis of the impact of typical influential parameters.Solar domestic hot water(SDHW)and photovoltaic systems(PV)are considered in the study.Numerical simulations indicate that for the examined sample case(Beirut in Lebanon)the total annual energy need of conventional building is 87.1 kWh/y.m^(2).About 49%of energy savings can be achieved by improving the building envelope and installing energy efficient technologies.Moreover,about 90%of energy savings in domestic hot water production can be achieved by installing a SDHW system composed of two solar collectors connected in series.Finally,the addition of a grid connected PV array system can significantly mitigate the energy needs of the building leading to an annual excess of energy.

INTEGRATED ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING DESIGN STRATEGIES FOR A ZERO-ENERGY BUILDING:Illinois Institute of Technology’s Design Entry for the 2018 U.S.Department of Energy Race to Zero(Solar Decathlon Design Challenge)

This paper describes the design of InterTech,a zero-energy mixed-use student residence hall,developed in 2018 by an interdisciplinary team of Illinois Institute of Technology(Illinois Tech)students for the U.S.Department of Energy Solar Decathlon Design Challenge,formerly known as Race to Zero.The main focus is the team’s integrated and iterative approach,which blended architectural design and engineering concepts and led to achieving the high-performance goal.InterTech aims to provide an innovative housing solution to Illinois Institute of Technology’s graduate students and their families.Located along State Street in between Illinois Tech’s main campus and downtown Chicago,it offers a mix of living options providing both independence and access to the campus and to the city.In addition to the residential program,the project includes a small grocery/cafe con-nected to an outdoor public plaza,and an underground garage.Energy modeling was introduced in the early design stages.The potential of on-site renewable energy generation defined the project’s target Energy Use Intensity(EUI)of 37 kBtu/sqft.Several passive and active strategies were implemented to reduce the building’s total energy needs and meet the target EUI.The implementation of energy conservation measures led to a 25%reduction of the building’s cooling load and a 33%reduction of the heating load.A design EUI of 28 kBtu/sqft was calculated,validating that this design met and exceeded the zero-energy goal.

基于EnergyPlus的被动式建筑能耗仿真实验

该文将Energy Plus建筑能耗仿真与实际被动式建筑现场调研、能耗监测相结合,以青岛地区某被动房为案例,开展了包括现场调研、仿真结果验证、节能潜力分析和敏感性分析等内容的实验项目。实验结果表明,该实验方法可操作性强,仿真结果与实测数据吻合度高,被动式建筑的节能效果得到有效验证。案例被动式建筑全供暖及供冷能耗指标分别为14.08 k Wh/m^(2)·a和8.37 k Wh/m^(2)·a,相比传统建筑全年节能55.26%,其中空调节能率高达56.95%;外墙、外窗保温、遮阳系统等被动措施是主要节能来源,节能占比分别为26.54%、23.58%和23.97%;灰色关联分析显示,外墙传热系数对全年能耗的敏感度最高。

基于EnergyPlus和Jeplus+EA联合模拟的建筑围护结构及光储系统协同优化研究

建筑本体和可再生能源系统的协同作用对于降低建筑碳排放具有重要意义.以北京某办公建筑为例,基于NSGA-Ⅱ的优化算法,以运行阶段碳排放和生命周期成本为目标函数,以热舒适为约束条件,利用EnergyPlus和Jeplus+EA软件进行联合仿真,开展建筑围护结构和光储系统的协同优化研究.结果表明:配置光储系统可较大程度降低建筑电网购电量及运行阶段碳排放,虽然生命周期成本会略有增加,但其减碳效果,大于单纯依靠围护结构性能提升的传统做法;尽可能利用建筑空间配置光伏对减少碳排放及生命周期成本都是有利的;通过软件联合模拟可实现建筑围护结构和光储系统的协同优化,且较于各自独立优化,能取得更好的设计方案.

Performance Comparison and Analysis of Heating and Ventilation of Two Kinds of Roof Solar Collectors

Two roof solar collectors (RSCs), conventional single pass RSC and new double pass RSC, were compared. The new roof solar collector, which is formed by integrating a double pass solar air collector with the roof of the building, can be operated more efficiently for space heating in winter, and for natural ventilation in other seasons. To evaluate the performances of the two RSCs for both space heating and natural ventilation, a single traditional Chinese style house, on which the two RSCs will be mounted, was developed. The efficiency of solar energy conversion for the new RSC is higher than that of the single pass one by 10% on average, and the ventilation rate contributed by natural ventilation for the new RSC can be improved to a great extent for most cases, indicating that the new RSC is superior to the single pass one from the viewpoint of both space heating and natural ventilation. The new RSC is more potential for improving indoor thermal environment and energy saving of buildings.

Reducing Heat-Load in Buildings through the Use of Solar Screens： Case Study of Bookshop House, Lagos

Technology advancement has ensured a better means of livelihood essentially in certain parts of West Africa, specifically Nigeria, where the climate is predominantly hot in most parts throughout the year. Air-conditioning has reduced the harshness of indoor discomforts to the barest minimum. It is no more uncommon to find it regularly in use in most homes and offices. Currently, the economy has the centrality of its power supply hinged on generator plants. The enigma of the current situation is how this alternative problem has catastrophic after effects on the environment. This and many more add up to the greatest of all the threats now evading our environment and the world -- Global warming. The threat of Global warming is real and the need to find less environmentally destructive sources of energy cannot be overemphasized. This paper is a contribution towards energy saving in buildings through the reduction of solar radiation incident on buildings. Sustainable Building calls for an integrated planning approach for operating buildings economically, substantially reducing their impact on the environment by reducing energy/power consumption, amongst others, and enhancing the well-being of their inhabitants. Only buildings that reconcile all of the above factors are fit for the future. A case study of the CMS （Catholic Mission School） Book Shop house in Lagos was carried out. The methodology involved the use of a solar chart and shadow angle protractor to determine the overheated periods represented by the shading masks and data collected. From this analysis, it was decided to accept the use of external sun shading and preliminary designs and specifications were prepared by the architects. The use of external solar screens made a saving of up to 75% of the energy input which would otherwise have been required by air-conditioning.

New Building Typologies for Zero Energy Mass Custom Housing(ZEMCH)in More Sustainable Patterns of Development

Conferences and publications on Smart Cities and self-styled ecological buildings such as“Vertical Forests”,“Biophilic”building complexes and other similar are multiplying.But then,in reality,we continue to design as we have always done for the last ninety years:with the consolidated rules and formal solutions of international post-modern composition,in its various forms.The only attentions are(and not always)to super-insulate the envelopes,arrange photovoltaic panels on the roofs,make the systems smart and cover the facades and roofs with appropriate green washing.Even in the awareness that human settlements and cities are extremely complex phenomena,mostly determined by economic and social factors,rather than by conscious typological-settlement choices,perhaps the time has come to acknowledge that the traditional paradigms of design must be changed.First of all,the types of settlements must be renewed,because it is through their optimization that the greatest savings in terms of energy and sustainability can be achieved.The research presented here is the application of a ten-year study that involved the development of net Zero Energy Mass Custom Housing(ZEMCH)in specific context in southern Italy.The Innovation and Transparency of Tenders Environmental Compatibility(ITACA)Assessment Protocol,derived from the Green Building Challenge’s GBTool,was used as a design guide,which is normally used for the assessment and judgment of sustainability at the building scale and not of the urban design.The result is a settlement model in which network of pedestrian,cycle and public transport is fully integrated with adjacent urban areas;effective landscaping connects public and private green and kitchen-gardens/orchards everywhere;buildings are made with new semi-underground typologies;net ZEMCHs are made with local,recyclable materials with low impact or positive energy balance;wastewater and rainwater are collected,in-loco phyto-purified and reused;renewable energies(sun,earth,wind)satisfy remaining necessities,with a minimum of plant interventions.

Smart Building Design to Improve the Energy Consumption at an Office Room

Buildings are becoming smarter as a result of a variety of advanced technologies that enable energy management, optimal space utilization, and smart surveillance for safety, among other things. Energy-efficient smart building ideas and execution are of great interest and top priority due to the building’s occupants’ misused and high-power consumption. This paper addresses the design and execution of an energy management system that includes a solar power system for generating power for the building’s needs and a PIR-based automation system for efficient power use. This project was carried out at the Military Technological College (MTC) in Muscat, in the system engineering department’s offices. This project seeks to generate power for the building’s energy needs using solar photovoltaic panels and reduce energy consumption within the office using a PIR-based automation system. The results demonstrate that after the breakeven point (the time it takes to recoup the initial investment), it can provide power to the building for another 17 years. The calculations and practical results presented in this study approve that the system is extremely helpful.