Applicability of the European Union’s building renovation assessment framework in Spain

Abstract The energy renovation of buildings is one of the main keys to achieve the decarbonisation objectives of the European Union (EU). In response, the Commission Recommendation (EU) 2019/786 proposed an assessment framework based on Measurable Progress Indicators (MPIs) to assess the decarbonisation. The objective of the study is to analyse the applicability of the MPIs in Spain; for this, the study analyses the viability of the MPIs and carries on the prioritization of the MPIs. Thus, the methodology is developed in three stages: (1) analysis of data availability the viability of each MPI; (2) prioritization of the MPIs by and expert round table (ERT); (3) applicability analysis of the prioritizing MPIs. Firstly, the analysis of viability shows that the data availability and the quality is limited, with many data source entities and big diversity of data features and quality. Secondly, the expert round table prioritized 8 MPIs regarding the EU’s targets in building renovation. Thirdly, the applicability evaluation finds out many barriers but also identifies the key points to launch the MPIs base assessment framework. The study identifies the entities that could likely carry on the data collection and other challenges like the digital building logbook (DBL) or the monitorization towards the efficient assessment of the renovation of the building

Assessment of Social Housing Energy and Thermal Performance in Relation to Occupants & Behaviour and COVID-19 Influence: A Case Study in the Basque Country, Spain

Evidence shows that people have a major impact on building performance. Occupants’ impact is especially important in social housing, where their occupants may present greater vulnerabilities, and their needs are not always considered. This study aims to analyse the socio-demographic influence in social rental housing concerning hygrothermal comfort and energy consumption in a case study located in Vitoria, Spain during the first 4-month period of 2020 and 2021 (during and after COVID-19 lockdown). An innovative data management system is included, where the users and administration can see in real-time the temperature and consumption in the dwellings. A 2-phase method has been applied; phase 1 is associated with outdoor climate conditions, building properties and social profile. Phase 2 determined the results in energy consumption, indoor hygrothermal comfort and occupant energy-use pattern. The results show that the comfort levels and energy consumption vary according to the analysed social profiles, as well as the heating activation periods and domestic hot water system usage. In conclusion, socio-demographic characteristics of social housing households influence the hygrothermal comfort of their dwellings, occupants’ behaviour and heating and domestic hot water energy consumption.This research was funded by the research project “Development of a methodology with a life cycle perspective to evaluate the energy rehabilitation actions of the existing building stock in accordance with the requirements of the new technical code” (PUE_2020_1_0013), supported by the Department of Education of the Basque Government

Mammographic density and ageing:A collaborative pooled analysis of cross-sectional data from 22 countries worldwide

BACKGROUND: Mammographic density (MD) is one of the strongest breast cancer risk factors. Its age-related characteristics have been studied in women in western countries, but whether these associations apply to women worldwide is not known. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We examined cross-sectional differences in MD by age and menopausal status in over 11,000 breast-cancer-free women aged 35-85 years, from 40 ethnicity- and location-specific population groups across 22 countries in the International Consortium on Mammographic Density (ICMD). MD was read centrally using a quantitative method (Cumulus) and its square-root metrics were analysed using meta-analysis of group-level estimates and linear regression models of pooled data, adjusted for body mass index, reproductive factors, mammogram view, image type, and reader. In all, 4,534 women were premenopausal, and 6,481 postmenopausal, at the time of mammography. A large age-adjusted difference in percent MD (PD) between post- and premenopausal women was apparent (-0.46 cm [95% CI: -0.53, -0.39]) and appeared greater in women with lower breast cancer risk profiles; variation across population groups due to heterogeneity (I2) was 16.5%. Among premenopausal women, the √PD difference per 10-year increase in age was -0.24 cm (95% CI: -0.34, -0.14; I2 = 30%), reflecting a compositional change (lower dense area and higher non-dense area, with no difference in breast area). In postmenopausal women, the corresponding difference in √PD (-0.38 cm [95% CI: -0.44, -0.33]; I2 = 30%) was additionally driven by increasing breast area. The study is limited by different mammography systems and its cross-sectional rather than longitudinal nature. CONCLUSIONS: Declines in MD with increasing age are present premenopausally, continue postmenopausally, and are most pronounced over the menopausal transition. These effects were highly consistent across diverse groups of women worldwide, suggesting that they result from an intrinsic biological, likely hormonal, mechanism common to women. If cumulative breast density is a key determinant of breast cancer risk, younger ages may be the more critical periods for lifestyle modifications aimed at breast density and breast cancer risk reduction

TFG 2012/2013

Amb aquesta publicació, EINA, Centre universitari de Disseny i Art adscrit a la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, dóna a conèixer el recull dels Treballs de Fi de Grau presentats durant el curs 2012-2013. Voldríem que un recull com aquest donés una idea més precisa de la tasca que es realitza a EINA per tal de formar nous dissenyadors amb capacitat de respondre professionalment i intel·lectualment a les necessitats i exigències de la nostra societat. El treball formatiu s’orienta a oferir resultats que responguin tant a paràmetres de rigor acadèmic i capacitat d’anàlisi del context com a l’experimentació i la creació de nous llenguatges, tot fomentant el potencial innovador del disseny.Con esta publicación, EINA, Centro universitario de diseño y arte adscrito a la Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, da a conocer la recopilación de los Trabajos de Fin de Grado presentados durante el curso 2012-2013. Querríamos que una recopilación como ésta diera una idea más precisa del trabajo que se realiza en EINA para formar nuevos diseñadores con capacidad de responder profesional e intelectualmente a las necesidades y exigencias de nuestra sociedad. El trabajo formativo se orienta a ofrecer resultados que respondan tanto a parámetros de rigor académico y capacidad de análisis, como a la experimentación y la creación de nuevos lenguajes, al tiempo que se fomenta el potencial innovador del diseño.With this publication, EINA, University School of Design and Art, ascribed to the Autonomous University of Barcelona, brings to the public eye the Final Degree Projects presented during the 2012-2013 academic year. Our hope is that this volume might offer a more precise idea of the task performed by EINA in training new designers, able to speak both professionally and intellectually to the needs and demands of our society. The educational task is oriented towards results that might respond to the parameters of academic rigour and the capacity for contextual analysis, as well as to considerations of experimentation and the creation of new languages, all the while reinforcing design’s innovative potential

26th Annual Computational Neuroscience Meeting (CNS*2017): Part 3 - Meeting Abstracts - Antwerp, Belgium. 15–20 July 2017

This work was produced as part of the activities of FAPESP Research,\ud Disseminations and Innovation Center for Neuromathematics (grant\ud 2013/07699-0, S. Paulo Research Foundation). NLK is supported by a\ud FAPESP postdoctoral fellowship (grant 2016/03855-5). ACR is partially\ud supported by a CNPq fellowship (grant 306251/2014-0)

Centro de innovación en Castellón

[CA] El projecte se situa al barri de la Cremor, a Castelló de la Plana. Un barri situat entremigs del centre urbà i la universitat de Castelló, l'UJI. Les fites més importants d'aquest barri són l'estació de tren i bus i el Riu Sec. El propòsit d'aquest projecte és dotar a aquest barri d'un centre d'Innovació, i generar un context urbà coherent entre el barri ja existent i la nova proposta d'intervenció urbana. Un centre d'Innovació és un edifici que allotja noves disciplines lligades a la tecnologia, el qual lligat a la universitat o a noves petites empreses de la ciutat de Castelló pot ser un pas important per la recerca i innovació de nous productes. L'edifici és a una parcel·la aïllada que se situa vora el Riu Sec, aprofitant-se de l'espai públic que l'envolta, per una banda el nou passeig generat vora el riu, per altra banda la dotació d'una gran plaça, generant nous espais de passeig i estança que doten de vida al barri i a l'entorn del edifici. S'orienta de manera que aprofita la captació natural del Sol, a la vegada que gaudeix de les noves vistes del parc vora el riu i la proposta de barri. Respecte al programa, s'accedeix per la planta baixa des del riu o de la plaça localitzada al nord. En planta baixa es disposen els usos més públics, més propers al riu aquells que també es poden gastar d'igual manera per gent del barri o aliena als usuaris habituals de l'edifici, com són el restaurant-cafeteria i la sala de conferències, la qual podrà ser utilitzada també com a sala d'exposicions o d'altres usos diferents. A la banda més propera al servef, situem l'administració, el gimnàs, els vestuaris i la piscina exterior, aquests seran els que limiten un espai exterior acotat propi de l'edifici. A les dues plantes superiors, es troba el programa més destacat del centre d'Innovació, com són els boxes, les start-ups i els spins-off, acompanyades de sales de reunió i espais oberts comuns de treball col·lectiu, també espais de descans i relació. Aquestes dues plantes es troben comunicades mitjançant un gran pati central i una connexió a doble altura, la qual també comunica en la planta baixa al hall d'entrada. Per altra banda trobem la planta soterrada, que es troba fortament ventilada gràcies a l'obertura generada per a accedir que a la vegada ens serveix com a element separador entre la sala de conferències i el parc lineal del riu. Aquesta planta, s'aprofita de l'estructura de la sala de conferències que aplegarà fins aquesta cota i ens permet salvar la gran llum. La forma d'aquest edifici ve donada pel programa, orientacions i usos tan diversos. Per tant es mantindrà un caràcter formal diferent per a la planta baixa que per a les plantes superiors. Mentre que la baixa s'entén com un conjunt de volums que donen forma a l'espai públic, acoten el nostre espai i utilitza una tipologia estructural i material diferent. Les plantes superiors, des de fora s'entenen com una gran únic volum, on una vegada ja a l'interior és conformat per diferents cossos tancats, que desplaçats entre si són els que donen pas als espais de treball i relació. Plantejant aquestes plantes com una infraestructura adaptable i flexible a possibles canvis d'ús.[EN] The project is located in the neighbourhood of the Cremor, in Castelló de la Plana. A district located in the middle of the urban centre and the University of Castelló, the UJI. The most important milestones in this neighbourhood are the train and bus station and the Riu Sec. The purpose of this project is to provide this neighbourhood with a centre of innovation, and generate a coherent urban context between the existing and the new proposal of urban intervention. A centre of innovation is a building that hosts new disciplines in the technology, which linked at the university or to new small businesses in the city of Castelló can be an important step for the research and innovation of new products. The building is in a secluded plot which is situated next to the Riu Sec, taking advantage of the public space that surrounds it, on the one hand the new promenade built along the river, on the other hand, the provision of a large square, generating new spaces for walking and stay that give life to the neighbourhood and the environment of the building. It is oriented in a way that takes advantage of the natural uptake of the sun, while enjoying new views of the park along the edge of the river and the proposal for a neighbourhood. Regarding the program, is accessed via the ground floor from the river or the square located to the north. On the ground floor is available to the public uses, closest to the river those that also can be spent in the same way by people in the neighbourhood or outside the regular users of the building, such as the café-restaurant and conference room, which can be used also as an exhibition hall or other different uses. The band closest to the servef, we place the administration, the gym, locker rooms and the outdoor swimming pool, these will be those that limit a bounded space outside of the building. On the top two floors, it is find the most prominent program of the Center for Innovation, such as the pit lane, start-ups and the spins-off, accompanied of meeting rooms and common open spaces of collective work, also spaces of rest and relationship. These two plants are connected by a large central patio and a double height, which also communicates with the ground-floor entrance hall. Also, we find the basement, which is heavily ventilated through the opening generated to access that serves as a space between the conference room and the linear park of the river. This plant, takes advantage of the structure of the conference room that will reach this dimension and allows us to save the great light. The form of this building is given by the program, guidance and uses as diverse. Therefore, formal character will be different for the ground floor to the upper floors. While the low it is understood as a set of volumes that shape the public space, limit our space and uses a structural typology and different material. The upper floors, from outside are understood as a single large volume, where once already in the interior is made up of different bodies closed, that internally displaced persons are those who give in the work spaces and relationship, so by raising these plants as a scalable and flexible plan to possible change its program and form.Figueroa López, A. (2018). Centre d'innovació a Castelló de la Plana. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/140755TFG

Opportunities and Barriers of Calibrating Residential Building Performance Simulation Models Using Monitored and Survey-Based Occupant Behavioural Data: A Case Study in Northern Spain

The performance gap caused by occupant behaviour (OB) is one of the main challenges to the accuracy of building performance simulations (BPS) models. Calibration of BPS models has shown great improvements in tertiary and single residential buildings. Nevertheless, the calibration in collective residential buildings is still uncertain. This study aims to identify the opportunities and barriers to the calibration of collective residential building BPS models for the analysis of heating energy consumption. For this, the research calibrates a real case study of a social rental housing building located in northern Spain. The method involves the adjustment of input data based on OB clusters, developed by monitorization and survey data and the statistical comparison of the results of normative models, calibrated models and real data. The results show an average improvement of 67% in hourly indoor temperature and 16% in hourly heating energy consumption in calibrated models, but still with a considerable performance gap. The main barriers to a higher accuracy are the wide diversity and lack of uniformity of OB patterns, uncertainty of parameters, and use of auxiliary heating systems. However, deeper monitorization and survey campaigns with the use of OB clusters can be a promising opportunity.The thesis of Silvia Perez-Bezos is funded by the Call for tender for a researcher training at the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU 2019 (PIF19/139) and the thesis of Markel Arbulu is funded by the Predoctoral Training Programme for Non-Doctor Research Personnel of the Department of Education of the Basque Government (PRE_2022_2_0121). This research is also funded by the grants to support research groups of the university system of the Basque Government awarded to CAVIAR research group (GIC21/161)

Evaluation of passive strategies, natural ventilation and shading systems, to reduce overheating risk in a passive house tower in the north of Spain during the warm season

During the last decade in the European Union, some targets have been set to reduce energy consumption in buildings, promoting the construction of nearly Zero Energy Buildings and under certificates as Passivhaus. Different regulations define indoor comfort, also Passivhaus standards, considered in this study. Previous studies research the risk of overheating in these buildings, particularly during hot seasons, recommending multiple strategies that are described in this project. This study aims to detect the best natural ventilation and shading strategies to mitigate overheating issues during the hot period in a Passivhaus certified residential tower in Bilbao. The study will be carried out by dynamic simulations. It has been analysed different factors in order to quantify their direct impact on the indoor temperature, proving that overheating can occur, especially during the hot season. The research will conclude that corner-oriented and crossed-oriented flats work better than the single-oriented for natural ventilation, producing more renovations per hour. Shading systems work better when located outside and are mobile. When combining the best previous strategies, the temperature achieves Passivhaus limitations, but high airspeed rates occur, preventing users’ comfort. To achieve Passivhaus limitations is necessary to regulate different opening strategies to avoid high airflow rates and combine different passive strategies

Applicability of the European Union’s Building Renovation Assessment Framework in Spain

The energy renovation of buildings is one of the main keys to achieve the decarbonisation objectives of the European Union (EU). In response, the Commission Recommendation (EU) 2019/786 proposed an assessment framework based on Measurable Progress Indicators (MPIs) to assess the decarbonisation. The objective of the study is to analyse the applicability of the MPIs in Spain; for this, the study analyses the viability of the MPIs and carries on the prioritization of the MPIs. Thus, the methodology is developed in three stages: (1) analysis of data availability the viability of each MPI; (2) prioritization of the MPIs by and expert round table (ERT); (3) applicability analysis of the prioritizing MPIs. Firstly, the analysis of viability shows that the data availability and the quality is limited, with many data source entities and big diversity of data features and quality. Secondly, the expert round table prioritized 8 MPIs regarding the EU’s targets in building renovation. Thirdly, the applicability evaluation finds out many barriers but also identifies the key points to launch the MPIs base assessment framework. The study identifies the entities that could likely carry on the data collection and other challenges like the digital building logbook (DBL) or the monitorization towards the efficient assessment of the renovation of the building

Clinical and treatment predictors of relapse during a three-year follow-up of a cohort of first episodes of schizophrenia.

Relapses are frequent in the first years following a first episode of schizophrenia (FES), being associated with a higher risk of developing a chronic psychotic disorder, and poor clinical and functional outcomes. The identification and intervention over factors associated with relapses in these early phases are timely and relevant. In this study, 119 patients in remission after a FES were closely followed over three years. Participants came from the 2EPS Project, a coordinated, naturalistic, longitudinal study of 15 tertiary centers in Spain. Sociodemographic, clinical, treatment and substance abuse data were analyzed. 49.6% of the participants relapsed during the 3-years follow-up. None of the baseline demographic and clinical characteristics analyzed showed a statistically significant association with relapses. 22% of patients that finished the follow-up without relapsing were not taking any antipsychotic. The group that relapsed presented higher mean antipsychotics doses (381.93 vs. 242.29 mg of chlorpromazine equivalent/day, p = 0.028) and higher rates of antipsychotic polytherapy (28.6% vs. 13%, p