Dynamic breathing walls

Dynamic Breathing Walls Mohammed Imbabi ► Energy, carbon and ventilation ► Key policy challenges ► Current, regulation-driven thinking ► Limitations of this approach Part(1): Sustainable building design 1 The facts ► Energy & carbon Globally, 40% of all energy and 50% of all carbon emissions are attributed to buildings. The energy used for air conditioning in torrid climates can exceed 70% of electricity supply. ► Ventilation Heavily insulated, air tight buildings with inadequate ventilation will impact indoor air quality (IAQ). Excessive outdoor pollution can degrade the health and well-being of building occupants. Energy, carbon and ventilation Priorities in policy ► The large numbers of existing buildings that pose a challenge to carbon reduction targets. ► Overcoming inertia, resistance to change and overregulation as barriers to innovation. ► Developing measures to accommodate the emerging cooling season in temperate regions. Key policy challenges 2 ‘Business as usual’ ► Thick insulation, such as 300mm of mineral wool in walls to achieve a U-value of 0.15 W/m2K. ► Additional structural material to accommodate and support thick insulation. ► Restricting indoor fresh air ventilation to levels that research has shown to be unhealthy. ► Resorting to massive construction to store heat and increase thermal inertia. Current, regulation-driven thinking The case for change ► High cost of materials and labour. . . due to thick insulation, heavier structure, etc ► Low floor plate efficiency. . . an undesirable feature of thick-wall construction ► High embodied energy. . . linked to greater use of construction materials ► Interstitial condensation. . . a known risk with thick-wall, tight construction ► Inadequate ventilation, poor IAQ. . . that can significantly impair occupant health Limitations of the current approach 3 ► The art & science of Dynamic Insulation (DI) ► Dynamic Breathing Building (DBB™) systems ► The Energyflo™ cell – an enabling product ► Summary of the benefits achievable Part (2): A new approach to sustainable building ventilation load fabric heat loss (outside) (inside) Conventional wall construction 4 fabric heat loss ventilation load heat recovered to air (inside) (outside) Dynamic wall construction Dynamic U-values using Energyflo™ cells in Typical Wall Construction 0.50 2003 Building Regulations (Dubai) U-Value (W/m2.K) 0.40 2007 Building Regulations (Engand) 0.30 2007 Building Regulations (Scotland) 0.20 0.10 95mm cell 135mm cell 175mm cell Operating range 0.00 0.0000 0.0005 0.0010 0.0015 0.0020 0.0025 0.0030 0.0035 0.0040 Airflow v elocity (m/s) Dynamic U-value 5 Examples of DBB™ systems ► A multi-functional product that replaces conventional wall, roof and floor insulation in all building types. ► Transforms the envelope into a heat exchanger, fresh air ventilation source and filter of airborne pollution. ► Transforms the building into a sustainable, clean, energy efficient DBB™. The Energyflo™ cell 6 A change for the better ► Ultra-low dynamic U-values in thin walls. . . future-proof compliance without the cost penalty ► Low energy demand for heating and cooling. . . cuts carbon emissions and whole life costs ► Low mass, high thermal inertia buildings. . . demand peak shaving to boost energy infrastructure ► Affordable, high performance construction. . . low carbon building without high add-on costs ► Filtration and good ventilation for improved IAQ. . . the building envelope as a filter of air pollution Summary of the benefits achievable ► The Balerno project, City of Edinburgh ► Affordable house design in Scotland ► Cooling mode trials in Abu Dhabi ► The UAE eco-villa project Part (3): Demonstration of the technology 7 Construction phase outside after insulation attic air 30 Temperature (oC) 25 20 15 10 5 0 Average temperature uplift 5.6°C of 8.8°C ` Energy saving over conventional house 16% of total heating load -5 03/09/2007 04/09/2007 05/09/2007 06/09/2007 07/09/2007 08/09/2007 09/09/2007 10/09/2007 11/09/2007 00:00 00:00 00:00 00:00 00:00 00:00 00:00 00:00 00:00 Time Post occupancy (Sept 07) 8 outside after insulation attic air 30 25 T emperature (oC) 20 15 Average temperature uplift 5.2°C of 13.0°C 10 ` 5 Energy saving over conventional house 10% of total heating load 0 -5 10/12/2007 11/12/2007 12/12/2007 13/12/2007 14/12/2007 15/12/2007 16/12/2007 17/12/2007 18/12/2007 00:00 00:00 00:00 00:00 00:00 00:00 00:00 00:00 00:00 Time Post occupancy (Dec 07) ► The Balerno project has demonstrated the energysaving benefits of the DBB™ roof system. ► It has allowed us to assess and quantify these benefits in the context of a real building. ► The benefits are universal, irrespective of building element, type or location. ► A spin-off of the project is of a very promising new technology (heat scoop) for retrofit applications. Conclusions (energy) 9 Nano-Particle Filtration 10000 supply duct outside Particle Concentration (pt/cc) 8000 6000 4000 90% 2000 Efficiency 0 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00 Time Measured filtration performance ► The Energyflo™ cell filters ~90% of fine and nano particles from ventilation air. ► This is achieved at the ventilation rates required to maintain a good indoor environment. ► Filtration efficiency in this range is not affected by geographical location or pollution level. ► The results are in good agreement with theory and will inform future product development. Conclusions (filtration) 10 Affordable house design in Scotland Space heating (07 Regs) 11 Space Heat Load (kW) 3.5 Reduction in peak load 3.0 2.5 Shortening of the heating season 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 ec 01 -D ov ct -N 01 p -O 01 ug 01 -S e ul 01 -A n -J 01 ay 01 -J u pr -M 01 ar -A 01 b -M -F e 01 01 01 -J an 0.0 Space heating (DBB™ No2) 0 2007 1 >10% >14% 2 >18% >22% 3 >25% >31% >37% 4 >44% >52% >60% >69% >79% >89% Base Standard DBB™ System 11 DBB™ System 22 TER reductions quoted for this house design, relative to the 2007 Base Standard, are for space heating alone. 1 House fitted with GCH. Code for Sustainable Homes, HMG 2007 2 House fitted with ASHP. Target Emissions Rate (TER) 12 To achieve comparable energy performance using a conventional insulation approach would require: 0.1W/m2K U-Value in the walls, roof and floor; at least 300mm of mineral wool insulation. 7.0 Mineral Wool Insulation: 6.4 Tonnes CO2 6.0 5.0 4.0 3.0 2.0 Dynamic Insulation: 1.0 Tonnes CO2 1.0 Conventional Insulation 0.0 DBB System Embodied Carbon in insulation (TCO2) DBB™ effect on design Up-front saving 5.4 Tonnes CO 2 Embodied carbon reduction 13 Condition Heat Source Embodied Carbon in Insulant (kgCO2) Embodied Carbon Saving (kgCO2) 6420 STATIC INSULATION GAS BOILER DYNAMIC INSULATION 1030 STATIC INSULATION DYNAMIC INSULATION EXHAUST AIR HEAT PUMP 5390 6420 1030 5390 Embodied carbon offset Condition Heat Source Embodied Carbon in Insulant (kgCO2) Embodied Carbon Saving (kgCO2) 6420 STATIC INSULATION 756 GAS BOILER DYNAMIC INSULATION 1030 STATIC INSULATION DYNAMIC INSULATION Space heating carbon emissions (kgCO2 pa) EXHAUST AIR HEAT PUMP 5390 6420 579 1030 5390 Embodied carbon offset 14 Condition Heat Source Embodied Carbon in Insulant (kgCO2) Embodied Carbon Saving (kgCO2) Space heating carbon emissions (kgCO2 pa) 6420 STATIC INSULATION 756 GAS BOILER DYNAMIC INSULATION 1030 STATIC INSULATION DYNAMIC INSULATION CARBON FREE YEARS EXHAUST AIR HEAT PUMP 5390 7.1 6420 579 1030 5390 9.3 NOTE: The estimates of CARBON FREE YEARS of operation relate solely to space heating energy. Embodied carbon offset ► 32% reduction in TER. ► 80% reduction in embodied carbon. ► 6% increase in useable floor area. ► Significantly reduced carbon footprint. ► Significantly reduced energy bills. ► Conclusions (carbon) 15 Affordable housing development in Orkney Cooling mode trials in Abu Dhabi 16 M easured Temperatures, 19t h September 2006 50 Outdoor Dry Wall Indoor o Temperature ( C) 40 30 20 10 0 00:00 06:00 12:00 18:00 00:00 Time (hh:mm) Cooling mode thermal performance Energyflo™ cells in 25% of the façade would: ► cut a/c plant cost by 3 – 4 times the cost of cells; ► significantly reduce the building’s carbon footprint; ► significantly reduce the annual energy bill; ► payback in less than 3 years as a retrofit; ► limit peak demand on the power grid; ► dramatically improve IAQ. Projected benefits 17 The UAE eco-villa project, RAK ► The value proposition ► Benefits to stakeholders ► Company profile in brief Part (4): Challenge and prosper 18 DBB™ systems challenge the orthodoxy to: ► significantly reduce energy for heating AND cooling lowers whole life running costs and reduces carbon emissions; ► improve IAQ and boost fresh air ventilation increases comfort levels and enhances health and well being; ► lower carbon footprint at no incremental cost reduces capital costs and lowers whole life running costs; ► lower peak demand and aid supply infrastructure increases availability, enhances security, reduces fuel poverty. The value proposition Building developers ► Potent carbon reduction strategy. ► Compliance with building regulations for all time. ► Lower construction costs for both plant and materials. ► Higher floor plate efficiency for improved ROI. ► New build | retrofit | refurbishment opportunities. Benefits to all stakeholders 19 Owners & occupiers ► Low energy bills for BOTH heating and cooling. ► Low carbon footprint. ► Enhanced indoor air quality. ► Enhanced health and well-being. ► Enhanced asset value. Benefits to all stakeholders Society at large ► Low energy demand | high energy security. ► Alleviates the threat of fuel poverty. ► Cuts emissions to help the environment. ► Reduces pollution-related health problems. ► More efficient use of generation capacity. Benefits to all stakeholders 20 ► Initial route to market through off-site and system build channel. ► Shipping product to modular house builder for social housing sector. ► Robust pre-sales support process to deliver optimised DBB™ systems. ► Strong R&D focus resulting in a rapidly expanding product pipeline. ► The eco-villa project in the UAE is the first overseas DBB™ demonstration project. Business development Andrew Peacock, Director Sandy Brown, Project Manager Mohammed Imbabi, CTO www.environmental-building.com Further information 21