Building Energy and Environment, 2nd Volume

Abstract submission deadline

31 December 2024

Manuscript submission deadline

31 March 2025

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Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Topic is a continuation of the previous successful Topic “Building Energy and Environment”.

In the presence of the serious global climate change problem, the building sector becomes a key area to achieve the goals of “carbon peaking” and “carbon neutrality”. During the life cycle of buildings, the construction, operation, retrofit and removal phases all generate large amounts of carbon emissions. The pandemic has brought another issue for building environment control and carbon emissions. The transformation towards green and low-carbon buildings is of great urgency, and has become a global development trend. In the building sector, there are still many challenges to promote the development route of "low-carbon, carbon reduction, net zero carbon", including low-carbon building theory and technology systems, building materials, construction technology, low-carbon operation and management, renewable energy utilization, energy-saving and environmental protection equipment, etc.

The main topics include (but are not limited to):

1. Low-carbon buildings and healthy building environment;

2. Advanced building environment control strategies and technologies;

3. Low-carbon building theory, methodology and design;

4. Advanced and emerging green building materials and infrastructure structures;

5. Low-carbon building construction assembly technology;

6. Methodology for monitoring, predicting, evaluating and control of carbon emissions throughout the life cycle of buildings;

7. Renewable energy utilization and energy saving equipment integrations;

8. Coupled design of urban form and energy systems.

Prof. Dr. Shi-Jie Cao
Dr. Wei Feng
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Energies energies	3.2	5.5	2008	16.1 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Buildings buildings	3.8	3.1	2011	14.6 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Designs designs	-	3.2	2017	16.4 Days	CHF 1600	Submit
Architecture architecture	-	-	2021	26.4 Days	CHF 1000	Submit

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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All Energies Buildings Designs Architecture

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25 pages, 8400 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Study on a Photovoltaic Direct-Drive and Municipal Electricity-Coupled Electric Heating System for a Low-Energy Building in Changchun, China

by Qi Zhao, Xiaoyue Liu, Shijie Gu, Jin Tao, Wende Wu, Shuang Ma and Hongwen Jin

Energies 2024, 17(9), 2048; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17092048 (registering DOI) - 25 Apr 2024

Abstract

This paper takes a low-energy building in Changchun, China, as an object to test and study the characteristics of two heating modes, AC/DC (Alternative current/Direct current) switching and AC/DC synthesis, from the perspectives of temperature change, irradiation intensity, power generation, electricity consumption, etc. [...] Read more.

This paper takes a low-energy building in Changchun, China, as an object to test and study the characteristics of two heating modes, AC/DC (Alternative current/Direct current) switching and AC/DC synthesis, from the perspectives of temperature change, irradiation intensity, power generation, electricity consumption, etc. Firstly, the experimental research was conducted under two heating cable modes by establishing mathematical models and a test rig, and it was found that the photoelectric conversion efficiency on sunny, cloudy, and overcast days was 18%, 14.5%, and 12%, respectively. A simulation model was established by TRNSYS to run an ultra-low-energy building throughout the year. It was found that the highest and lowest monthly power generation occurred in February and July, respectively. The annual power generation of the system was 6614 kWh, and the heating season power generation was 3293.42 kWh. In the current research, the DC electricity consumption was slightly higher than the AC electricity consumption. Under conditions of similar radiation intensity and power generation, the indoor temperature of the AC/DC synthesis cable heating mode were 1.38% higher than the AC/DC switching heating able mode, and the electricity consumption were 10.9% and 4.76% higher, respectively, than those of the AC switching heating cable mode. This is of great significance for clean-energy heating, energy savings, and emissions reduction in northern China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Building Energy and Environment, 2nd Volume)

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24 pages, 9734 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Diffuser Location on Thermal Comfort Inside a Hospital Isolation Room

by Mustafa Alkhalaf, Adrian Ilinca, Mohamed Yasser Hayyani and Fahed Martini

Designs 2024, 8(2), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/designs8020019 - 20 Feb 2024

Viewed by 1140

Abstract

Thermal comfort is increasingly recognized as vital in healthcare facilities, where patients spend 80–90% of their time indoors. Sensing, controlling, and predicting indoor air quality should be monitored for thermal comfort. This study examines the effects of ventilation design on thermal comfort in [...] Read more.

Thermal comfort is increasingly recognized as vital in healthcare facilities, where patients spend 80–90% of their time indoors. Sensing, controlling, and predicting indoor air quality should be monitored for thermal comfort. This study examines the effects of ventilation design on thermal comfort in hospital rooms, proposing four distinct ventilation configurations, each with three airflow rates of 9, 12, and 15 Air Changes per Hour (ACH). The study conducted various ventilation simulation scenarios for a hospital room. The objective is to determine the effect of airflow and the diffuser location distribution on thermal comfort. The Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations, along with the k–ε turbulence model, were used as the underlying mathematical representation for the airflow. The boundary conditions for the simulations were derived from the ventilation standards set by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and insights from previous studies. Thermal comfort and temperature distribution were assessed using indices like Predicted Percentage Dissatisfaction (PPD), Predicted Mean Vote (PMV), and Air Diffusion Performance Index (ADPI). Although most of the twelve scenarios failed to attain thermal comfort, two of those instances were optimal in this simulation. Those instances involved the return diffuser behind the patient and airflow of 9 ACH, the minimum recommended by previous studies. It should be noted that the ADPI remained unmet in these cases, revealing complexities in achieving ideal thermal conditions in healthcare environments. This study extends the insights from our prior research, advancing our understanding of ventilation impacts on thermal comfort in healthcare facilities. It underscores the need for comprehensive approaches to environmental control, setting the stage for future research to refine these findings further. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Building Energy and Environment, 2nd Volume)

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26 pages, 13369 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Potential of Green Engineering Solutions for Energy Conservation in Residential Buildings Towards Sustainability: A Case Study of Saudi Arabia

by Abdullah ALshabanat and Siddig Omer

Architecture 2023, 3(4), 713-738; https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture3040039 - 22 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1319

Abstract

Developing countries in hot climate regions such as Saudi Arabia have witnessed rapid population growth, which has led to greater resource consumption as a result of the increased demand for new buildings. This research proposes a multi-objective evaluation of the potential green engineering [...] Read more.

Developing countries in hot climate regions such as Saudi Arabia have witnessed rapid population growth, which has led to greater resource consumption as a result of the increased demand for new buildings. This research proposes a multi-objective evaluation of the potential green engineering solutions to conserve energy using a building within the ROSHN housing project, which is one of the mega projects in Saudi Arabia, as a case study for this paper with the aid of simulation software, taking into consideration the context of the sustainability concept. The results showed that traditional passive architectural design, whether courtyards or Mashrabiya, had the nearly greatest influence, with percentages ranging from −4% to −5.15% for varied parameters and designs compared to the base case energy usage. Furthermore, energy efficiency solutions for the building envelope’s external insulation and finish system (EIFS) enabled a drop in the U-value that lowered energy usage to −5.40%. However, the wall insulation thickness beyond 300 mm in this system has no substantial influence on energy savings. This research’s most clear finding is that a P2P system for PV panels on a district scale can supply enough energy to meet its needs after implementing the optimal strategy of the other proposed solutions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Building Energy and Environment, 2nd Volume)

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22 pages, 130429 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

A Case Study on Multi-Objective Optimization Design of College Teaching Building Atrium in Cold Regions Based on Passive Concept

by Zhengshu Chen, Yanqiu Cui, Haichao Zheng, Ruihan Wei and Shuo Zhao

Buildings 2023, 13(9), 2391; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13092391 - 21 Sep 2023

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Abstract

The atrium space represents one of the most energy-intensive areas within buildings. This is especially evident in college teaching buildings, where the inclusion of atriums often leads to increased energy consumption, primarily due to enhancements in lighting and thermal comfort. To address this [...] Read more.

The atrium space represents one of the most energy-intensive areas within buildings. This is especially evident in college teaching buildings, where the inclusion of atriums often leads to increased energy consumption, primarily due to enhancements in lighting and thermal comfort. To address this issue, this study investigates atriums in cold regions within college teaching buildings and establishes four distinct atrium models for such buildings through typological abstraction and evolution. This study utilizes the Grasshopper (Ladybug Tools; developed by Robert McNeel & Assoc, Inc. in the United States.) parametric performance simulation platform to simulate daylight comfort and energy consumption within the atriums. Range analysis is subsequently applied to assess the impact of variables on energy consumption, and variables with the least influence are eliminated. Subsequently, the Octopus plug-in is employed to conduct multi-objective optimization for the four atrium types, resulting in the attainment of a Pareto-optimized solution set. Following optimization, the energy efficiency rates for the four atrium types are determined as 10.3%, 17.6%, 37.2%, and 30.5%, respectively, while the daylight comfort rates experience enhancements of 4.4%, 10.4%, 44.7%, and 34%, respectively. This study provides designers with a reference for optimizing design parameters during the early stages. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Building Energy and Environment, 2nd Volume)

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18 pages, 7262 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

GIS Retrofitting Technique for Hong Kong Sports Center with a Large Hall

by Ming-Lun Alan Fong and Kai-Kwong Dennis Tsang

Architecture 2023, 3(3), 410-427; https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture3030022 - 04 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1177

Abstract

The energy consumption of air conditioning systems in large spaces is a concern due to inefficiencies caused by the high ceiling. This paper presents the Green aIr-distribution System (GIS) retrofitting technique as a solution to reduce energy consumption and optimize thermal comfort in [...] Read more.

The energy consumption of air conditioning systems in large spaces is a concern due to inefficiencies caused by the high ceiling. This paper presents the Green aIr-distribution System (GIS) retrofitting technique as a solution to reduce energy consumption and optimize thermal comfort in a large Hong Kong sports center to achieve carbon neutrality. A comparison is made between the existing air distribution system with ceiling supply and return as baseline model and the GIS with occupied wall supply and ceiling return as retrofit models regarding ventilation performance, thermal comfort, and energy aspects. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is employed to analyze the average operative temperature, airspeed, and other thermal comfort parameters. The findings demonstrate that implementing the GIS in the large sports center allows for a 1.5 °C increase in the supply temperature without significantly compromising thermal comfort. The algorithm for developing GIS for the large space application is also discussed. Additionally, the GIS model exhibits notable improvements in ventilation factors, such as Local Mean Age (LMA), Local air change index (LACI), and Air Distribution Performance Index (ADPI), resulting in improved air quality and reduced energy use within the occupied space. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Building Energy and Environment, 2nd Volume)

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18 pages, 4586 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Performance Analysis of Transcritical CO₂ Quasi-Secondary Compression Cycle with Ejector Based on Pinch Point

by Junlan Yang, Xin Zhang, Linxiu Wang, Yufan Du and Yifei Han

Designs 2023, 7(4), 89; https://doi.org/10.3390/designs7040089 - 04 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 803

Abstract

To investigate the performance of transcritical CO₂ quasi-secondary compression cycle with ejector (TCIEJ) for heat pump water heaters, the thermodynamic model of TCIEJ is established based on the pinch point, and TCEX, TCEJ, and TCI are selected as comparisons. The effects of [...] Read more.

To investigate the performance of transcritical CO₂ quasi-secondary compression cycle with ejector (TCIEJ) for heat pump water heaters, the thermodynamic model of TCIEJ is established based on the pinch point, and TCEX, TCEJ, and TCI are selected as comparisons. The effects of changing high pressure and ambient temperature on the heating COP and compressor exhaust temperature are analyzed, and the influence of cooling water inlet and outlet temperature and vapor injection pressure on TCIEJ is further analyzed. The results show that there are optimal high pressures that make the heating COP of the four heat pump cycles reach the maximum value, of which TCIEJ has the best performance. At an ambient temperature of −15 °C, the maximum heating COP of TCIEJ increased by about 20.5%, 14.9%, and 7.9% compared with TCEX, TCEJ, and TCI. With the increase in ambient temperature, the optimal high pressure continues to increase, and the corresponding maximum heating COP gradually increases. Selecting the geometric mean of high pressure and evaporation pressure as the optimal vapor injection pressure for TCIEJ, the error is small compared to the actual optimal vapor injection pressure. With the increase in ambient temperature and cooling water outlet temperature, the optimal high pressure of TCIEJ continues to increase, and the correlation formula of optimal high pressure is fitted according to the simulation results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Building Energy and Environment, 2nd Volume)

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16 pages, 3153 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Unsteady Heat Flux Measurement and Predictions Using Long Short-Term Memory Networks

by Byung Kyu Park and Charn-Jung Kim

Buildings 2023, 13(3), 707; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13030707 - 08 Mar 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1270

Abstract

Energy consumption modeling has evolved along with building technology. Modeling techniques can be largely classified into white box, gray box, and black box. In this study, the thermal behavior characteristics of building components were identified through time-series data analysis using LSTM neural networks. [...] Read more.

Energy consumption modeling has evolved along with building technology. Modeling techniques can be largely classified into white box, gray box, and black box. In this study, the thermal behavior characteristics of building components were identified through time-series data analysis using LSTM neural networks. Sensors were installed inside and outside the test room to measure physical quantities. As a result of calculating the overall heat transfer coefficient according to the international standard ISO 9869-1, the U value of the multi-window with antireflection coating was 1.84 W/(m²∙K). To understand the thermal behavior of multiple windows, we constructed a neural network using an LSTM architecture and used the measured data-set to predict and evaluate the heat flux through deep learning. From the measurement data, a wavelet transform was used to extract features and to find appropriate control time-step intervals. Performance was evaluated according to multistep measurement intervals using the error metric method. The multistep time interval for control monitoring is preferably no more than 240 s. In addition, multivariate analysis with several input variables was performed. In particular, the thermal behavior of building components can be analyzed through heat flux and temperature measurements in the transient state of physical properties of pre-installed building components, which were difficult to access with conventional steady-state measurement methods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Building Energy and Environment, 2nd Volume)

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22 pages, 6411 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Criteria Decision-Making of Countermeasure Combination for Mitigating the Stack Effect in High-Rise Office Building

by Yiran Li, Neng Zhu and Yingzhen Hou

Buildings 2023, 13(3), 653; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13030653 - 28 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1227

Abstract

Energy loss and performance deterioration caused by the stack effect are emerging issues in high-rise office buildings (HROB). However, a single countermeasure may not completely remove the stack effect problems, so combinations of countermeasures are often considered in building commissioning or retrofit projects [...] Read more.

Energy loss and performance deterioration caused by the stack effect are emerging issues in high-rise office buildings (HROB). However, a single countermeasure may not completely remove the stack effect problems, so combinations of countermeasures are often considered in building commissioning or retrofit projects to achieve the desired results. Therefore, a comprehensive study on combinations is necessary for the final decision-making. In this study, a multi-criteria decision-making model is proposed, which is utilized to calculate the ranking of countermeasure combinations for the final decision-making index by assigning weights and conducting comprehensive analysis on four criteria: infiltration energy loss, maximum pressure difference, investment cost, and implementation resistance. Based on a two-level Fractional-Factorial design (FFD), the interaction effects between countermeasures were verified, and the regression models of infiltration energy loss and maximum pressure difference were obtained as well. The investment cost and implementation resistance were defined according to the investigation and survey. An Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was applied to establish the weights of each criterion. A weighted Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method was applied to establish the decision-making index. Through the case study of a HROB located in northern China, it was concluded that the ideal combination can reduce infiltration and pressure difference by 26.88% and 87.58%, respectively, with low-level investment costs and implementation resistance. The results indicate that the multi-criteria model provides a comprehensive ranking of countermeasure combinations, which can serve as a quantitative basis for the final decision-making. Furthermore, this multi-criteria decision-making approach can be extended to other buildings in other regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Building Energy and Environment, 2nd Volume)

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23 pages, 17818 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Patio Design Optimization for Huizhou Traditional Dwellings Aimed at Daylighting Performance Improvements

by Rui Gao, Jiaping Liu, Zihan Shi, Guanjie Zhang and Wen Yang

Buildings 2023, 13(3), 583; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13030583 - 21 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1284

Abstract

Hui-style architecture is a mature architectural school in the late period of ancient Chinese society with distinct regional cultural characteristics. Especially as the most direct carrier of Huizhou people’s living culture, Hui-style architecture is the witness of ancient Huizhou society, history, and culture. [...] Read more.

Hui-style architecture is a mature architectural school in the late period of ancient Chinese society with distinct regional cultural characteristics. Especially as the most direct carrier of Huizhou people’s living culture, Hui-style architecture is the witness of ancient Huizhou society, history, and culture. However, with the continuous development of society, residents gradually put forward higher requirements for the living environment. In this paper, the indoor light environment of Huizhou dwellings is measured and found to have problems such as poor indoor light environment and low light quality. In order to improve the indoor lighting quality, this study extracts the key design parameters (window edge height, window width, patio length, and patio width) that affect the indoor lighting quality through field research and literature analysis, and then uses Honeybee to carry out multi-factor orthogonal experiments and single factor quantitative comparative analyses on the key design parameters to determine the degree of influence. The results show that reducing the window edge height can improve the lighting effect near the window, and increasing the window width and patio width can improve the overall lighting quality of the room, thus providing a reference for optimizing the lighting effect of Huizhou traditional dwellings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Building Energy and Environment, 2nd Volume)

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