Variabilidad del rendimiento de la Etsie de Sevilla en función del grado de rehabilitación energética.

The objective of the present paper is to study the profitability of the improvement energy efficiency actions through the analysis of several proceedings in an educational building, in order to compare the economic investment with the performance of energy improvement achieved with the intervention. The study is conducted on a University Building, a traditional construction building of the 60s in Spain, considering energy rehabilitation for minimal regulatory compliance. However, as evidenced by this paper, not all the actions represent a clear economic viability, leaving pending a plus in some proceedings, also because of economic reasons. Once the results of the improvement actions are obtained, an economic and energy comparative is carried out, assessing economic considerations related with costs savings of the energy efficiency actions and with their economic investment, taking into account amortization period as the basis of the viability analysis. The underlying idea of this study is to propose possible alternatives to improve energy efficiency, according to initial situations, in order to go further into valid indicators for energy efficiency actions in educational buildings.El objetivo de la presente comunicación es el estudio de la rentabilidad en actuaciones de mejoramiento del rendimiento energético a través del análisis de diversas actuaciones en un edificio de uso docente, para comparar la inversión económica con el rendimiento de la mejora energética conseguida con la intervención. El estudio se realiza en un edificio universitario con un sistema constructivo tradicional de los años 60 en España, a partir de la opción de rehabilitación energética para un cumplimiento mínimo de la normativa, aunque, como se comprueba a lo largo del análisis no todas las actuaciones presentan una viabilidad económica clara y se deja pendiente un plus en algunas de las mejoras, también por motivos básicamente económicos. Una vez obtenidos los resultados de las mejoras propuestas, se ha realizado una comparativa energética y económica de resultados, evaluando los aspectos económicos relacionados con el ahorro en las mejoras de eficiencia energética para el edificio con la inversión que estas mejoras suponen para analizar su viabilidad teniendo como base el periodo de amortización. La idea sobre la que se sustenta el estudio es el planteamiento de las posibles alternativas de mejora del rendimiento energético, en función de las situaciones de partida, con la finalidad de profundizar en otros indicadores válidos para actuaciones de eficiencia energética en edificios públicos docentes

Hydrological rehabilitation of neighbourhoodsusing sustainable urban drainage systems.

Este artículo es una síntesis del proyecto de investigación realizado en la Universidad de Sevilla para diseñar un modelo de análisis que permita la comprobación de la viabilidad técnica y socioeconómica de los proyectos de rehabilitación hidrológica de barrios urbanos, mediante la construcción de infraestructuras de drenaje sostenibles. El modelo propuesto presenta novedades significativas con respecto a los empleados tradicionalmente en los sistemas urbanos de drenaje sostenible. En primer lugar, se parte de la base de la realización de análisis previos que permitan comprobar la posibilidad de recuperación del agua de lluvia para que, tras sencillos tratamientos para eliminar sus posibles contaminantes, pueda ser usada en labores urbanas del barrio que no requieren agua de calidad. Además, al plantearse como un proyecto cuyo objetivo es “la rehabilitación hidrológica” de un barrio urbano habitado, se contempla medidas clave para conseguir la interacción con los agentes sociales que intervendrán en la gestión local del ciclo del agua, incluyendo medidas sociales y educativas relacionadas con el uso del agua. La finalidad del modelo es aportar los suficientes datos, tanto relacionados con las características del lugar como con la calidad del agua, para poder diseñar unos Sistemas Urbanos de Drenaje Sostenible que sean adecuadosThis paper summarizes a research project conducted in the University of Seville, in order to design an analysis model that allows the assessment of technical and socio-economic viability of hydrological rehabilitation projects in urban neighbourhoods, through the construction of sustainable drainage infrastructures. The model proposed presents significant developments when compared with the ones traditionally used in sustainable urban drainage systems. On the one hand, the possibility of recovering rainwater with simple treatments, eliminating potential contaminants, has been verified previously, testing water for urban purposes with no quality requirements. Moreover, since the main objective of this project is the “hydrological rehabilitation” of an inhabited neighbourhood, the interaction with social agents is a key factor that must be considered for a more appropriate local management of the water cycle, thus social and educational measurements related to the use of water have been included. The aim of this model is to present sufficient data, both referred to the water quality and hydrological conditions of the neighborhood, in order to design adequate Sustainable Drainage Urban Systems

Assessment of Indoor Environmental Quality for Retrofitting Classrooms with An Egg-Crate Shading Device in A Hot Climate

In the Mediterranean climate, a large number of educational buildings suffer from discomfort due mostly to energy-deficient thermal envelopes and a lack of cooling systems. Impending climate change is expected to worsen overheating in classrooms, especially during heatwave periods. Therefore, the protection of window openings to reduce incident solar radiation while maintaining adequate indoor environmental quality must be considered a necessary key focus. The main objective of this research is to assess the influence of an egg-crate shading device on the indoor environmental quality of a classroom in Southern Spain. To do so, two classrooms—with and without this shading device—were simultaneously monitored over a whole year. The implementation of an egg-crate shading device allowed for a significant reduction of the incident solar radiation, both in summer and mid-season (around 45–50%), which objectively slightly conditioned indoor operative temperatures. Given the noticeable influence of the user patterns observed, indoor illuminance was also improved, as the rolling shutters tended to be opened at higher aperture levels

Daylighting Performance of Solar Control Films for Hospital Buildings in a Mediterranean Climate

One of the main retrofitting strategies in warm climates is the reduction of the effects of solar radiation. Cooling loads, and in turn, cooling consumption, can be reduced through the implementation of reflective materials such as solar control films. However, these devices may also negatively affect daylight illuminance conditions and the electric consumption of artificial lighting systems. In a hospital building, it is crucial to meet daylighting requirements as well as indoor illuminance levels and visibility from the inside, as these have a significant impact on health outcomes. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the influence on natural illuminance conditions of a solar control film installed on the windows of a public hospital building in a Mediterranean climate. To this end, a hospital room, with and without solar film, was monitored for a whole year. A descriptive statistical analysis was conducted on the use of artificial lighting, illuminance levels and rolling shutter aperture levels, as well as an analysis of natural illuminance and electric consumption of the artificial lighting system. The addition of a solar control film to the external surface of the window, in combination with the user-controlled rolling shutter aperture levels, has reduced the electric consumption of the artificial lighting system by 12.2%. Likewise, the solar control film has increased the percentage of annual hours with natural illuminance levels by 100–300 lux

Indoor Air Quality Assessment: Comparison of Ventilation Scenarios for Retrofitting Classrooms in a Hot Climate

Current energy e ciency policies in buildings foster the promotion of energy retrofitting of the existing stock. In southern Spain, the most extensive public sector is that of educational buildings, which is especially subject to significant internal loads due to high occupancy. A large fraction of the energy retrofit strategies conducted to date have focused on energy aspects and indoor thermal comfort, repeatedly disregarding indoor air quality criteria. This research assesses indoor air quality in a school located in the Mediterranean area, with the objective of promoting di erent ventilation scenarios, based on occupancy patterns and carbon dioxide levels monitored on site. Results show that manual ventilation cannot guarantee minimum indoor quality levels following current standards. A constant ventilation based on CO2 levels allows 15% more thermal comfort hours a year to be reached, compared to CO2-based optimized demand-controlled ventilation. Nevertheless, the latter ensures 35% annual energy savings, compared to a constant CO2-based ventilation, and 37% more annual energy savings over that of a constant ventilation rate of outdoor air per person

Thermal and Lighting Consumption Savings in Classrooms Retrofitted with Shading Devices in a Hot Climate

Most educational buildings in southern Spain do not meet current energy requirements as weak thermal envelopes and the lack of cooling systems lead to severe discomfort in classrooms, especially when temperatures are above 30 °C. Given that global warming is expected to worsen this situation in coming decades, one of the first steps to be taken is to protect window openings from high levels of solar radiation by adding shading devices to reduce indoor temperatures and improve visual comfort. The aim of this research is to evaluate the reduction in thermal and lighting consumption in a classroom where a solar protection system in the form of an egg-crate shading device was installed. Two classrooms—one with an egg-crate device and another with no shading system—were monitored and compared for a whole year. The use of an egg-crate device in these classrooms reduced indoor operative temperatures during warmer periods while also improving indoor natural illuminance levels. Moreover, annual electric air conditioning consumption decreased by approximately 20%, with a 50% reduction in electric lighting consumption. These savings in electricity were largely conditioned by the use patterns observed in these ambient systems.Spanish government BIA2014-53949-RMinistry of Economy and Competitiveness, Spanish GovernmentEuropean Regional Development Fun

Combinatiorial method for surface-confined sensor desing and fabrication

The procedure for the combinatorial fabrication of new sensing materials for cations and anions based on self-assembled monolayers (SAM) is discussed. A library of different sensitive substrates is generated by sequential deposition of fluorophores and small ligand molecules onto an amino-terminated SAM coated glass. The preorganization provided by the surface avoids the need for complex receptor design, allowing for a combinatorial approach to sensing systems based on individually deposited small molecules. Additionally the sensing system has been miniaturized to the microscale using microcontact printing and integrating the sensory SAMs on the walls of microchannels

Assessment of Indoor Environmental Quality for Retrofitting Classrooms with An Egg-Crate Shading Device in A Hot Climate

In the Mediterranean climate, a large number of educational buildings suffer from discomfort due mostly to energy-deficient thermal envelopes and a lack of cooling systems. Impending climate change is expected to worsen overheating in classrooms, especially during heatwave periods. Therefore, the protection of window openings to reduce incident solar radiation while maintaining adequate indoor environmental quality must be considered a necessary key focus. The main objective of this research is to assess the influence of an egg-crate shading device on the indoor environmental quality of a classroom in Southern Spain. To do so, two classrooms—with and without this shading device—were simultaneously monitored over a whole year. The implementation of an egg-crate shading device allowed for a significant reduction of the incident solar radiation, both in summer and mid-season (around 45–50%), which objectively slightly conditioned indoor operative temperatures. Given the noticeable influence of the user patterns observed, indoor illuminance was also improved, as the rolling shutters tended to be opened at higher aperture levels