- Saudi Arabia
- Alfaisal University, Architectural Engineering, Faculty Memberadd
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Recent developments in dynamic energy simulation tools enable the definition of energy performance in buildings at the design stage. However, there are deviations among building energy simulation (BES) tools due to the algorithms,... more
Recent developments in dynamic energy simulation tools enable the definition of energy performance in buildings at the design stage. However, there are deviations among building energy simulation (BES) tools due to the algorithms, calculation errors, implementation errors, non-identical inputs, and different weather data processing. This study aimed to analyze several building energy simulation tools modeling the same characteristic office cell and comparing the heating and cooling loads on a yearly, monthly, and hourly basis for the climates of Boston, USA, and Madrid, Spain. First, a general classification of tools was provided, from basic online tools with limited modeling capabilities and inputs to more advanced simulation engines. General-purpose engines, such as TRNSYS and IDA ICE, allow users to develop new mathematical models for disruptive materials. Special-purpose tools, such as EnergyPlus, work with predefined standard simulation problems and permit a high calculation sp...
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In buildings with ambitious energy goals or limited roof areas for on-site energy generation, building-integrated solar thermal collectors are one of the main strategies to provide on-site renewable energy to the built environment. In... more
In buildings with ambitious energy goals or limited roof areas for on-site energy generation, building-integrated solar thermal collectors are one of the main strategies to provide on-site renewable energy to the built environment. In addition, designing large glazing facades is a challenge to achieving the goal of zero-energy buildings due to the thermal load produced by standard double or triple glazing. This research shows that Water Flow Glazing (WFG) can produce domestic hot water as a building-integrated solar thermal collector by flowing water through the chamber between glass panes and can help reduce thermal loads through facades. In this article, the solar collector’s efficiency was defined according to the UNE-EN 12975-2 standard and then applied to the Water Flow Glazing. As a result, the transparent Water Flow Glazing’s optical efficiency η0 varies from 0.648 to 0.742, whereas the thermal loss coefficient a1 ranges from 9.51 to 4.16. Those values are like those of comme...
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Sistema simbiotico inteligente para ahorro energetico en edificacion.#El sistema consiste en una serie de automatas (1) que envian y reciben datos de un concentrador (2) conectado a internet (3), utilizando como medio de visualizacion... more
Sistema simbiotico inteligente para ahorro energetico en edificacion.#El sistema consiste en una serie de automatas (1) que envian y reciben datos de un concentrador (2) conectado a internet (3), utilizando como medio de visualizacion (5), comunicacion a la vez que como mando a distancia cualquier ordenador, telefono inteligente o tablet que pueda conectarse a internet. El sistema esta previsto para su uso en el sector de la automatizacion y la domotica, y en concreto para monitorizacion de dispositivos electricos de un edificio o de un entorno urbano para el ahorro y la gestion de energia.
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Estructura modular plegable que reduce al mínimo el material necesario para cumplir con requisitos de seguridad en función de la luz a cubrir. El sistema de plegado y desplegado de la estructura facilita y abarata el transporte; es... more
Estructura modular plegable que reduce al mínimo el material necesario para cumplir con requisitos de seguridad en función de la luz a cubrir. El sistema de plegado y desplegado de la estructura facilita y abarata el transporte; es versátil y se adapta a muchos usos distintos; y reduce el coste por el máximo aprovechamiento del material necesario. Comprende al menos dos pilares, cada uno de ellos conformado por la unión de dos subestructuras verticales unidas entre sí y cada una de ellas comprendiendo al menos un módulo básico de pilar (A), un módulo de remate superior (B), y un módulo de remate inferior (C). Comprende también una viga, conformada al menos por la unión de dos subestructuras horizontales de las que cada una comprende al menos un módulo básico de viga (D).Peer reviewedConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (España), Universidad San Pablo CEUA1 Solicitud de patente con informe sobre el estado de la técnic
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transparent enclosures or translucent active power management capability. Enclosure comprising transparent sheets or translucent form a chamber (1) through which a liquid flows in closed circuit cedes or absorbs energy from the outer and... more
transparent enclosures or translucent active power management capability. Enclosure comprising transparent sheets or translucent form a chamber (1) through which a liquid flows in closed circuit cedes or absorbs energy from the outer and inner environments, a heat exchanger (2) in contact with the liquid, a pump circulation (3) and a device for reducing the hydrostatic pressure (4). The device for reducing hydrostatic pressure will reduce the thicknesses of transparent sheets containing the liquid. The active character of the enclosure is associated with its ability to control the solar thermal load and illumination. The solar heat load is regulated through the heat exchanger. The control of building lighting is done by adjustable transparency of the liquid. The device thus formed will create an isotherm envelope that allows heat a building. The system may be used for active enclosures to the exterior or interior partitions for the climatization and the lighting control and cover gl...
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Understanding the consumption patterns in a working space is important for evaluating the causes of energy wastage and for developing strategies towards specific energy reduction methods. The intent of metering systems in buildings is to... more
Understanding the consumption patterns in a working space is important for evaluating the causes of energy wastage and for developing strategies towards specific energy reduction methods. The intent of metering systems in buildings is to provide adequate data that help improve building systems performance. The results of the analysis offer the potential to improve the energy efficiency of the building and reduce the operation costs. Researchers of Polytechnic University of Madrid and American University of Ras Al Khaimah have developed a metering and control system that processes and analyzes the digitalized signals. This system can collect, analyze and manage the electrical consumption in buildings. It is non-intrusive, can be easily deployed in electric boards and sends data to a central base station located away from the metering device. In this article the system is tested in an educational facility with a wide range of uses. The lighting fixtures, power outlets and HVAC devices...
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Buildings account for such a significant amount of the energy consumed in the World. While window glazing will be more and more extensively used in modern architecture, active water-flow window panels are being introduced in the market... more
Buildings account for such a significant amount of the energy consumed in the World. While window glazing will be more and more extensively used in modern architecture, active water-flow window panels are being introduced in the market with a double objective: to reduce energy consumption and to manage solar energy striking on building facades.In order to reach a nearly-zero energy consumption new materials and constructive solutionsare required. Disposing of the heat captured by the water can be achieved in different ways. In hot climates it can either be dissipated together with the buildings other heat loads in whatever refrigeration system is provided, or it can be stored in a tank and cooled down by evaporative refrigeration or night dissipation at a very low energy cost. This article shows real data obtained by means of monitoring real buildings using water flow glass panes. Certain layer coatings have been developed in order to reduce the emissivity of the glass, and to retain the heat inside. Her- manns, del Ama and Hernandez (2012) demonstrated properties of low-emissivity glazing used in solving the problem of exces- sive heat loss in winter. Ismail and Salinas (2006)proved that acting in the air chamber can improve the insulation capacity in double-glazed windows, for instance by filling it with inert gas, or by it being a vacuum space.In summer conditions the prob- lem consists of solvingenergy gains in the summer due to solar radiation. An effective approach to overcome this problem is to capture the largest possible solar fraction before it reaches the occupied areas, and dispose of it somewhere else. Chow, Li and Lin (2010) studied the effectiveness of water flow glazing espe- cially in hot climates with no extreme exterior temperatures.
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Several studies on indoor air quality (IAQ) and sick building syndromes have been completed over the last decade, especially in cold countries. Efforts to make homes airtight to improve energy efficiency have created buildings with low... more
Several studies on indoor air quality (IAQ) and sick building syndromes have been completed over the last decade, especially in cold countries. Efforts to make homes airtight to improve energy efficiency have created buildings with low ventilation rates, resulting in the build-up of indoor pollutants to harmful levels that would be otherwise unacceptable outdoors. This paper analyzed the infiltration rates, indoor temperatures, and variations in CO2, 2.5 μm particulate matter (PM2.5), and total volatile organic compound (TVOC) concentrations over the fall of 2021 in several homes in New England, USA. A relationship between outdoor and indoor conditions and ventilation strategies has been set using the results from blower door tests and actual indoor air quality data. Although all case studies lacked mechanical ventilation devices, such as those required by ASHRAE Standard 62.2, natural ventilation and air leakage have been enough to keep VOCs and PM2.5 concentration levels at accept...
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This paper presents a case-study, quasi-experiment in the framework of Architectural Engineering (AE) Bachelor (BA)degree in the UnitedArab EmiratesUniversity (UAEU) and the Architecture (Arch) BAat the American University of RasAl... more
This paper presents a case-study, quasi-experiment in the framework of Architectural Engineering (AE) Bachelor (BA)degree in the UnitedArab EmiratesUniversity (UAEU) and the Architecture (Arch) BAat the American University of RasAl Khaimah (AURAK). To analyze the best approach to introduce Building Information Modelling (BIM) tools intoAcademia, we evaluated three different approaches by introducing a new BIM tool (Revit) into a construction course.These ICT tools (Information and Communication Technologies), are currently required by the Architectural,Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. We tested the students’ performance, submissions and opinions of thecourse methods in order to evaluate these approaches. In this study, we compared the students’ performance in theBuilding Components course (BCC) at UAEU and in the Construction III course (CIII) at AURAK, analyzing how thesenew course designs affected the students. We tested the BCC course during six semesters and the CIII...
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espanolEl consumo energetico de las edificaciones representa el 40% del consumo energetico en la Union Europea. El programa Horizon 2020 promueve el diseno y construccion de edificaciones que no consuman energia. El Departamento de... more
espanolEl consumo energetico de las edificaciones representa el 40% del consumo energetico en la Union Europea. El programa Horizon 2020 promueve el diseno y construccion de edificaciones que no consuman energia. El Departamento de Energia de los EEUU [1] lleva desarrollando desde hace muchos anos el EnergyPlus: un codigo de simulacion que permite simular el consumo energetico de sistemas de climatizacion muy complejos. Sin embargo, el programa no contempla elementos como ventanas activas con agua. En otras ocasiones, los modelos matematicos no se ajustan a la realidad. Todas estas razones hacen necesario desarrollar un software paralelo para la evaluacion mediante la simulacion de sistemas energeticos. El objetivo de la herramienta de simulacion es la exploracion y optimizacion de soluciones. El esfuerzo de codificacion de todas esas configuraciones, incluso en el caso del EnergyPlus, es muy grande. El presente trabajo consiste en el desarrollo de un codigo de simulacion basado en ...
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Energy engineers can use metering systems to monitor a building's energy efficiency and actively look for opportunities to further energy-saving opportunities. The intent of metering systems is to provide adequate data that can be... more
Energy engineers can use metering systems to monitor a building's energy efficiency and actively look for opportunities to further energy-saving opportunities. The intent of metering systems is to provide adequate data that can be used to improve building systems performance. Providing a breakdown, for specific rooms, appliances, or times of the day is the only way to link actual data, actions and results. The results of the analysis offer the potential to improve the energy efficiency of the building and reduce the operation costs. In addition, a system provides the ability to report and analyze the data, as well as help the owner take action and improve building performance. In this article a metering system developed by researchers of Polytechnic University of Madrid and American University of Ras Al Khaimah is tested in an educational facility. The results are shown and discussed.
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New light envelopes for buildings need a holistic vision based on the integration of architectural design, building simulation, energy management, and the curtain wall industry. Water flow glazing (WFG)-unitized facades work as... more
New light envelopes for buildings need a holistic vision based on the integration of architectural design, building simulation, energy management, and the curtain wall industry. Water flow glazing (WFG)-unitized facades work as transparent and translucent facades with new features, such as heat absorption and renewable energy production. The main objective of this paper was to assess the performance of a new WFG-unitized facade as a high-performance envelope with dynamic thermal properties. Outdoor temperature, variable mass flow rate, and solar radiation were considered as transient boundary conditions at the simulation stage. The thermal performance of different WFGs was carried out using simulation tools and real data. The test facility included temperature sensors and pyranometers to validate simulation results. The dynamic thermal transmittance ranged from 1 W/m2K when the mass flow rate is stopped to 0.06 W/m2K when the mass flow rate is above 2 L/min m2. Selecting the right g...
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Este trabajo es el primer estudio que conozco respecto a la organizacion de los datos para buscar la calidad acustica en espacios a disenar, que utiliza tanto las tecnologias actual como el propio diseno tradiciona. El estudio es... more
Este trabajo es el primer estudio que conozco respecto a la organizacion de los datos para buscar la calidad acustica en espacios a disenar, que utiliza tanto las tecnologias actual como el propio diseno tradiciona. El estudio es ambicioso en cuanto que hace un barrido muy completo, no solo del tratamiento del sonido, vivo, amplificado, nuevos modos y control, sino del objetivo de ese sonido, musica, comunicacion oral, mixto y de sus cualidades optimas en cada caso y de las cualidades formales materiales que deben tener los recintos en los que se desarrolla la actividad. Completa el estudio analizando los metodos que se han seguido historicamente para el diseno acustico de los locales, y proponiendo uno nuevo, con ayuda de programas informaticos. La metodologia seguida es muy clara, casi se le podia calificar de cartersiana, acotando muy bien cada problema y perfectamente acorde con los objetivos y las acotaciones graficas y conceptuales del campo de la tesis. El tratamiento general...
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The energy demand of non-domestic building includes a wide variety of uses and energy services. Researchers of Polytechnic University of Madrid and American University of Ras Al Khaimah have developed a smart metering system to report and... more
The energy demand of non-domestic building includes a wide variety of uses and energy services. Researchers of Polytechnic University of Madrid and American University of Ras Al Khaimah have developed a smart metering system to report and analyze the electrical consumption in buildings. The system is non-intrusive, can be easily deployed in electric boards and sends data to a central base station located away from the metering device. In this article the system is tested in an educational facility. The lighting, power outlets and HVAC circuits are analyzed and finally the results are discussed.
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Sistema simbiotico inteligente para ahorro energetico en edificacion.#El sistema consiste en una serie de automatas (1) que envian y reciben datos de un concentrador (2) conectado a internet (3), utilizando como medio de visualizacion... more
Sistema simbiotico inteligente para ahorro energetico en edificacion.#El sistema consiste en una serie de automatas (1) que envian y reciben datos de un concentrador (2) conectado a internet (3), utilizando como medio de visualizacion (5), comunicacion a la vez que como mando a distancia cualquier ordenador, telefono inteligente o tablet que pueda conectarse a internet. El sistema esta previsto para su uso en el sector de la automatizacion y la domotica, y en concreto para monitorizacion de dispositivos electricos de un edificio o de un entorno urbano para el ahorro y la gestion de energia.
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The new paradigm of Net Zero Energy buildings is a challenge for architects and engineers, especially in buildings with large glazing areas. Water Flow Glazing (WFG) is a dynamic facade technology shown to reduce heating and cooling loads... more
The new paradigm of Net Zero Energy buildings is a challenge for architects and engineers, especially in buildings with large glazing areas. Water Flow Glazing (WFG) is a dynamic facade technology shown to reduce heating and cooling loads for buildings significantly. Photovoltaic panels placed on building roofs can generate enough electricity from solar energy without generating greenhouse gases in operation or taking up other building footprints. This paper investigates the techno-economic viability of a grid-connected solar photovoltaic system combined with water flow glazing. An accurate assessment of the economic and energetic feasibility is carried out through simulation software and on-site tests on an actual prototype. The assessment also includes the analysis of global warming potential reduction. A prototype with WFG envelope has been tested. The WFG prototype actual data reported primary energy savings of 62% and 60% CO2 equivalent emission reduction when comparing WFG to ...
This paper focuses on the design process of a deployable footbridge that meets the requirements of maximum compactness in its folded state, as well as minimum use of auxiliary means during the folding and unfolding process. The... more
This paper focuses on the design process of a deployable footbridge that meets the requirements of maximum compactness in its folded state, as well as minimum use of auxiliary means during the folding and unfolding process. The fundamental strategy to achieve this is to transform into cables all those elements whose tensile work is guaranteed, taking advantage of the possibility of posttensioning in order to make the whole system stiffer. The suitability of ensuring that these cables will not vary in length when folding the structure, avoiding the need for collection devices, gave rise to a series of geometric constraints that ended up conditioning the design of the prototype. On the other hand, the relationship between post-tensioning and the structure's period of vibration will be discussed, through the development of a dynamic analysis.
espanolEl vidrio, como elemento fundamental en el diseno de la arquitectura, se enfrenta a los tradicionales problemas de excesivas ganancias energeticas ene verano y perdidas exageradas en invierno. El vidrio activo con agua en... more
espanolEl vidrio, como elemento fundamental en el diseno de la arquitectura, se enfrenta a los tradicionales problemas de excesivas ganancias energeticas ene verano y perdidas exageradas en invierno. El vidrio activo con agua en circulacion porporciona el control de la carga termica que incide sobree una fachada gracias a la circulacion ascendente del agua a traves de la camara entre panos. El agua no solo absorbe la radiacion infrarroja sino que reduce la temperatura del vidrio interior sin renunciar a su transparencia. Aporta asimismo inercia termica al cerramiento y un gran potencial para absorber energia y trasladarla, haciendo de los vidrios activos una solucion especialmente indicada en climas calidos. Este texto expone las bases del comportamiento energetico y posibilidades de esta tecnologia, mostrando los resultados de simulaciones de una edificacion que la implementa en su fachada sur. EnglishGlass, as a fundamental element in architectural design, faces tha traditional ch...
The transparent materials used in building envelopes significantly contribute to heating and cooling loads of a building. The use of transparent materials requires to solve issues regarding heat gain, heat loss, and daylight. Water flow... more
The transparent materials used in building envelopes significantly contribute to heating and cooling loads of a building. The use of transparent materials requires to solve issues regarding heat gain, heat loss, and daylight. Water flow glazing (WFG), a disruptive technology, includes glazing as part of the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system. Water is transparent to visible wavelengths, but it captures most of the infrared solar radiation. As an alternative to fossil fuel-based HVAC systems, the absorbed energy can be transferred to the ground through borehole heat exchangers and dissipated as a means of free-cooling. Researchers of the Polytechnic University of Madrid have developed a software tool to calculate the energy balance while incorporating the dynamic properties of WFG. This article has studied the mathematical model of that tool and validated its ability to predict energy savings in buildings, taking spectral and thermal parameters of glazing catalog...
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Building energy modelling is an inter-disciplinary area of research which involves, among others, concepts of electrical and software engineering, mechanical engineering and also, architecture. Building energy models are used at the... more
Building energy modelling is an inter-disciplinary area of research which involves, among others, concepts of electrical and software engineering, mechanical engineering and also, architecture. Building energy models are used at the design stage for the purpose of energy code compliance certification. The accuracy of results depends on how well the building model has been developed and calibrated. Most of the programs available in the market take into account occupancy pattern behavior, thermal parameters of construction elements, hvac and lighting systems. However, the impact of thermal mass and the influence of active energy management systems have not been accurately reported. This paper presents a review of significant modeling methodologies which have been developed and adopted to model the energy behavior of buildings. A BIM-oriented methodology for building energy modeling will be presented. This research has included case studies to investigate the feasibility of modeling ac...
Net-zero energy buildings (NetZEBs) are of a building typology designed to combine energy efficiency and renewable energy generation to consume only as much energy as produced onsite through renewable resources over a specified time. The... more
Net-zero energy buildings (NetZEBs) are of a building typology designed to combine energy efficiency and renewable energy generation to consume only as much energy as produced onsite through renewable resources over a specified time. The successful creation of NetZEBs is crucial to combating the current climate crisis. Water flow glazing (WFG) is a key technology that will assist in achieving this goal. Several experimental facilities have been designed and constructed to collect data based on WFG technology. These experimental facilities demonstrate that the successful implementation of WFG will allow reducing heating and cooling loads, primary energy consumption, and CO2 emissions. However, a wrong WFG selection can lead to failure in NetZEBs design. The goal of this text was to assess WFG performance through key performance indicators to understand the need of other renewable energies so that the construction of NetZEBs becomes a realistic target.
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High initial costs hinder innovative technologies for building envelopes. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) should consider energy savings to show relevant economic benefits and potential to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Life... more
High initial costs hinder innovative technologies for building envelopes. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) should consider energy savings to show relevant economic benefits and potential to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Life Cycle Cost (LCC) and Life Cycle Energy (LCE) should focus on investment, operation, maintenance, dismantling, disposal, and/or recycling for the building. This study compares the LCC and LCE analysis of Water Flow Glazing (WFG) envelopes with traditional double and triple glazing facades. The assessment considers initial, operational, and disposal costs and energy consumption as well as different energy systems for heating and cooling. Real prototypes have been built in two different locations to record real-world data of yearly operational energy. WFG systems consistently showed a higher initial investment than traditional glazing. The final Life Cycle Cost analysis demonstrates that WFG systems are better over the operation phase only when it is comp...
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Large glass areas, even high-performance glazing with Low-E coating, could lead to discomfort if exposed to solar radiation due to radiant asymmetry. In addition, air-to-air cooling systems affect the thermal environment indoors.... more
Large glass areas, even high-performance glazing with Low-E coating, could lead to discomfort if exposed to solar radiation due to radiant asymmetry. In addition, air-to-air cooling systems affect the thermal environment indoors. Water-Flow Glazing (WFG) is a disruptive technology that enables architects and engineers to design transparent and translucent facades with new features, such as energy management. Water modifies the thermal behavior of glass envelopes, the spectral distribution of solar radiation, the non-uniform nature of radiation absorption, and the diffusion of heat by conduction across the glass pane. The main goal of this article was to assess energy consumption and comfort conditions in office spaces with a large glass area by using WFG as a radiant heating and cooling system. This article evaluates the design and operation of an energy management system coupled with WFG throughout a year in an actual office space. Temperature, relative humidity, and solar radiatio...
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The extensive use of glass in modern architecture has increased the heating and cooling loads in buildings. Recent studies have presented water flow glazing (WFG) envelopes as an alternative building energy management system to reduce... more
The extensive use of glass in modern architecture has increased the heating and cooling loads in buildings. Recent studies have presented water flow glazing (WFG) envelopes as an alternative building energy management system to reduce energy consumption and improve thermal comfort in buildings. Currently, commercial software for thermal simulation does not include WFG as a façade material. This article aims to validate a new building simulation tool developed by the authors. Simulation results were compared with real data from a scale prototype composed of two twin cabins with different glazing envelopes: a Reference double glazing with solar-control coating and a triple water flow glazing. The results showed a good agreement between the simulation and the real data from the prototype. The mean percentage error of the indoor temperature cabin was lower than 5.5% and 3.2% in the WFG cabin and in the Reference glazing one, respectively. The indoor air temperature of the WFG cabin was ...
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This paper examines the actual knowledge regarding Building Performance Simulation Tools (BPSTs) of recent graduate architects in Spain. BPSTs quantify aspects of building performance that are relevant to design, construction, and... more
This paper examines the actual knowledge regarding Building Performance Simulation Tools (BPSTs) of recent graduate architects in Spain. BPSTs quantify aspects of building performance that are relevant to design, construction, and operation. Recent graduate architects are those who have been awarded a first degree from a university or college and face their first professional experience. This article aims to identify the deficiencies within the current curricula of Spanish universities relating to BPSTs. The authors have surveyed 171 recent graduate architects, and the analysis of the data reveals the deficiencies in university education. Regarding the collected results, the Spanish university syllabi must undergo necessary modifications to encourage the use of simulation as a part of university training courses. The incorporation of energy simulation in such training courses can provide recent graduate architects with tools that would assist them during the design stage. The use of...
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The extensive use of glass in modern architecture has increased the heating and cooling loads in buildings. Recent studies have presented water flow glazing (WFG) envelopes as an alternative building energy management system to reduce... more
The extensive use of glass in modern architecture has increased the heating and cooling loads in buildings. Recent studies have presented water flow glazing (WFG) envelopes as an alternative building energy management system to reduce energy consumption and improve thermal comfort in buildings. Currently, commercial software for thermal simulation does not include WFG as a façade material. This article aims to validate a new building simulation tool developed by the authors. Simulation results were compared with real data from a scale prototype composed of two twin cabins with different glazing envelopes: a Reference double glazing with solar-control coating and a triple water flow glazing. The results showed a good agreement between the simulation and the real data from the prototype. The mean percentage error of the indoor temperature cabin was lower than 5.5% and 3.2% in the WFG cabin and in the Reference glazing one, respectively. The indoor air temperature of the WFG cabin was ...
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The extensive use of glass in modern architecture has increased the heating and cooling loads in buildings. Recent studies have presented water flow glazing (WFG) envelopes as an alternative building energy management system to reduce... more
The extensive use of glass in modern architecture has increased the heating and cooling loads in buildings. Recent studies have presented water flow glazing (WFG) envelopes as an alternative building energy management system to reduce energy consumption and improve thermal comfort in buildings. Currently, commercial software for thermal simulation does not include WFG as a façade material. This article aims to validate a new building simulation tool developed by the authors. Simulation results were compared with real data from a scale prototype composed of two twin cabins with different glazing envelopes: a Reference double glazing with solar-control coating and a triple water flow glazing. The results showed a good agreement between the simulation and the real data from the prototype. The mean percentage error of the indoor temperature cabin was lower than 5.5% and 3.2% in the WFG cabin and in the Reference glazing one, respectively. The indoor air temperature of the WFG cabin was ...
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Article Info ABSTRACT Article history: Received Revised Accepted Understanding the consumption patterns in a working space is important for evaluating the causes of energy wastage and for developing strategies towards specific energy... more
Article Info ABSTRACT Article history: Received Revised Accepted Understanding the consumption patterns in a working space is important for evaluating the causes of energy wastage and for developing strategies towards specific energy reduction methods. The intent of metering systems in buildings is to provide adequate data that help improve building systems performance. The results of the analysis offer the potential to improve the energy efficiency of the building and reduce the operation costs. Researchers of Polytechnic University of Madrid and American University of Ras Al Khaimah have developed a metering and control system that processes and analyzes the digitalized signals. This system can collect, analyze and manage the electrical consumption in buildings. It is non-intrusive, can be easily deployed in electric boards and sends data to a central base station located away from the metering device. In this article the system is tested in an educational facility with a wide range of uses. The lighting fixtures, power outlets and HVAC devices are analyzed in offices, classrooms and architecture studios. This article concludes that energy audits for longer time periods help building managers understand device profiles, occupant behavior and environmental context.
The construction of Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) is one of the objectives in the road to the low-carbon economy by 2050. NZEB design includes a reduction of current energy demands and the balance between consumption and on-site energy... more
The construction of Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) is one of the objectives in the road to the low-carbon economy by 2050. NZEB design includes a reduction of current energy demands and the balance between consumption and on-site energy generation without compromising indoor comfort conditions. Building designers are using building information modeling (BIM) and building energy simulation (BES) tools to validate design decisions and to evaluate energy balance in buildings. However, the flow of information between BIM software and BES tools has not been solved yet. This work proposes a method to address the decision-making process at three different stages of the building design. Initially, the use of BIM over the architectural design process helps architects to make meaningful decisions related to the passive solar heat gains and envelop materials. Secondly, a more advanced BES is used to analyze the strategies of ventilation and the influence of heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Finally, a new method to integrate water flow glazing (WFG) is implemented to increase the comfort in those areas of the building with a large area of glass. Applying the right strategy for natural ventilation can reduce the thermal loads by 45% in Summer. Using WFG minimizes the gap between indoor air temperature and operative temperature according to the results. A building energy simulation methodology to validate energy balance and comfort in zero energy buildings. Nomenclature BES Building Energy Simulation SG Total building glazing surface area, m 2 BIM Building Information Modeling SB Total building opaque envelope surface area, m 2 WFG Water Flow Glazing SF Total building floor surface area, m 2 c Mean specific heat capacity of the building, J/kg K UB Opaque envelope thermal transmittance, W/m2K g g value of the glass UG Glazing thermal transmittance, W/m 2 K gON g value for water flow glazing at maximum flow rate UW Water thermal transmittance, W/m 2 K gOFF g value for water flow glazing without water circulation θi(t) Indoor temperature, K hi Interior heat transfer coefficient, W/m 2 K θi Mean indoor temperature, K I(t) Impinging radiation on the glazing, W/m 2 θe(t) Outdoor temperature, K Ī Mean impinging radiation on the glazing, W/m 2 θe Mean outdoor temperature, K m Mean thermal mass of the building, kg θw(t) Water temperature inside water flow glazing and cooling ceiling, K q(t) Internal heat loads, W/m 2 θw Mean water temperature inside WFG panel q Mean internal heat loads, W/m 2