Bioclimatic rehabilitation of an open market place by a computational fluid dynamics simulation assessment

These days urban design of open spaces is strongly related to bioclimatic techniques and practices. It is here presented the procedure of a bioclimatic study by the use of simulation tools. The area of an open market place is characterized of decreased human thermal comfort conditions during summer time. The employment of computational fluid dynamics has contributed in the understanding of what interventions should be made at the open space in order to succeed the defined thermal related targets. Table of the proposed rehabilitation explains what the interventions would contribute in the improvement of the local environment.The authors greatly acknowledge the support of the Mayor of Eordaia Mrs Paraskevi Vrizidou during all simulation stages. ANSYS-CFD simulations were carried out in the framework of student instruction and demonstration of the Department of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace in Greece

On the cooling potential of cool roofs in cold climates: Use of cool fluorocarbon coatings to enhance the optical properties and the energy performance of industrial buildings

Rejection of solar gains is the aim of passive cooling strategies in any type of building and any climatic region. The extent of cool materials' applicability depends on the external climatic conditions and internal heat gains. The aim of the present paper is to analyse the contribution of an innovative cool fluorocarbon coating in the reduction of energy demand for cooling when applied in an industrial building with increased heat gains under temperate climatic conditions. The material is tested using accelerated weathering procedures and its optical properties, i.e. solar reflectance and infrared emmitance are measured. There is an increase of 120% of the roof's albedo by the application of cool material. Regarding the heating and cooling loads there was a decrease of 73% for cooling while there was a minor heating penalty of 5%. © 2013 Elsevier B.V

Minimizing the energy consumption of low income multiple housing using a holistic approach

The present paper describes a holistic energy efficient retrofit of low income multiple social housing located in Athens, Greece. A holistic analysis was conducted in order to determine the optimum retrofit plan that includes innovative and state of the art commercially available technologies, passive techniques as well as renewable energy sources, aiming to reduce its energy consumption and carbon footprint, improve indoor environmental conditions and be cost effective at the same time. An extensive experimental campaign including air leakage measurements, thermal imaging, energy consumption and indoor environmental quality measurements was conducted before and after the implementation of the retrofit. In addition, advanced building simulation, occupant surveys and socioeconomic analyses were performed in order to evaluate the impact of the retrofit and estimate specific performance indicators. © 2017 Elsevier B.V

Design and performance analysis of a zero-energy settlement in Greece

Zero-energy and zero-carbon buildings would be a huge opportunity for contrasting the climatic changes and, more in general, the deterioration of the microclimate inside and around cities. About it, a question appears compulsory: are zero-energy and zero-carbon concepts applicable at urban scale? This paper tries to answer to this question, by discussing the possible effects of the application of appropriate city planning techniques when a new settlement is designed. An integrated approach to urban planning is applied to a case study, for promoting the design of buildings with very low (or zero) energy needs, characterized by high indoor comfort conditions, by taking into consideration whole city areas, with different kinds of services. Passive heating, cooling and daylighting techniques have been combined, as well as the integration of renewable sources, in order to minimize the energy demand and environmental impact, for having a sustainable 'urban balance' and, in general, a sustainable urban growth. As real case study, the design of the holiday village 'Olympiad' is presented; it should be built in an unstructured seaside area in Greece. Several indexes are introduced to evaluate the global sustainability of the settlement, through the application of the definition of 'on-grid ZEB', with reference to each building as well as for the entire village. This kind of research could help city planners for a growth inspired to general goals of urban sustainability. © The Author 2016