Implementation of a new bi-directional solar modelling method for complex facades within the ESP-r building simulation program

This paper provides an overview of a new method for modelling the total solar energy transmittance. It is implemented in the ESP-r building simulation program to model complex façades such as double glazed façades with external, internal or integrated shading devices. This new model has been validated and tested for several cases. The new model required changes to the solar control simulation algorithm and the user interface, so a new “Advanced optics menu” was also introduced into ESP-r. The paper presents the interface development and application of the new technique to different simulation configurations (especially different complex façades with shading devices) in a standard office building

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Solar Energy Integration in Heritage Historic Buildings

AbstractWhen facing a retrofitting project which tries to improve the energy performance of a cultural heritage building it is necessary to weigh carefully different aspects such as: energy efficiency, modernization and comfort. These energy improvements are desirable, but are not always possible without compromises. The situation may become slightly problematic when solar energy systems should be installed in historic buildings. The first step to overcoming barriers successfully, is to better understand the processes for both, historic preservation and solar PV project implementation, and to foster working with professionals in each sector to receive appropriate support and guidance. Establishing an assessment criterion for each step was the top priority of the research project presented here to assist in achieving a successful result

A MWE Acquisition and Lexicon Builder Web Service

This paper describes the development of a web-service tool for the automatic extraction of Multi-word expressions lexicons, which has been integrated in a distributed platform for the automatic creation of linguistic resources. The main purpose of the work described is thus to provide a (computationally "light") tool that produces a full lexical resource: multi-word terms/items with relevant and useful attached information that can be used for more complex processing tasks and applications (e.g. parsing, MT, IE, query expansion, etc.). The output of our tool is a MW lexicon formatted and encoded in XML according to the Lexical Mark-up Framework. The tool is already functional and available as a service. Evaluation experiments show that the tool precision is of about 80%

A Case Study of Solar Technologies Adoption: Criteria for BIPV Integration in Sensitive Built Environment

Abstract Solar Photovoltaics is one of the core technologies for a paradigm shift of our electric infrastructure towards distributed generation. In 2011 Italy became the first world market; however, Germany has even the primacy of accumulated power. The installed capacity amounted to 10.000 MW according to data of Italian Manager of Energy Services (GSE) against 1.000 MW in 2010 and 3.000 the beginning of 2011. The projections of GSE include the achievement of the 12.000 MW by the end of the year with more than 350.000 running plants. In a nearly mature market, cost related issues and technical difficulties are encountered in particular in the successful integration within a sensitive and consolidated built environment. The research presented aims to investigate the possible results of an effective use of Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), choosing existing buildings in the city of Bellinzona (Canton Ticino, CH) as case studies. Bellinzona presents similar characteristics to small Northern Italian cities in terms of built environment characteristic and climate conditions. The theoretical framework for the analysis is the one proposed initially for low energy and nearly net zero energy buildings (NZEB). Although this type of analysis has been developed, in particular, for building with high penetration of renewable energy sources generation (up to 100% of the energy consumed), it seems worth investigating the dynamic interaction of building energy demand, on-site generation and grid with similar tools, because of the necessity of achieving low energy demand also in retrofitted existing buildings in a near future

Trends in integration of photovoltaic facilities into the built environment

Cities are consumers of large amounts of energy. They require uninterrupted energy supply but with dynamic power profile.Mainly consumption of energy generated from fossil fuels is present todaywith consequence significant pollution of the environment.The sustainable energy transition in cities means increasing the supply of energy from renewable sources.Thepaperpoints to the integration of PV renewable systems in the built environment, opportunities and constraints, design conditions and tools. The consideration of the constraints which creates urban environment is carried out in order to understand the complexity of selecting locations in the cities. In thissense, the paper gives an overview of the possibilitiesof PV systemsintegration in the built environment, and discusses physical limitations in the urban environment and simulation toolsas well as challenges and research and development issues

Overview and analysis of current BIPV products: new criteria for supporting the technological transfer in the building sector

[EN] The growing demand for nearly-Zero Energy Buildings is rapidly contributing to change the building skin from being a passive barrier towards a sensitive and active interface. Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) is a unique solution for delivering clean, safe, affordable and decentralized electricity to people transforming the building surfaces in active solar collectors. Despite photovoltaic (PV) technology and their basic usage are today known to everybody, the particular requirements for building integration have brought to the surface some issues over the years so that BIPV is still a niche market. Starting from this observation, the paper presents the results of an investigation on the current market of BIPV products for roofs and façade. The analysis aimed to identify the relevant possibilities the products today offer and the level of information that the producers make available within the technical description of BIPV systems. After disclosing the actual lack of information in comparison to conventional building products, the authors propose to implement a new “building-based” approach that could support the BIPV market by including a more comprehensive description of the product’s quality (today mainly comprising electrical and basic physical features). Such a “building-technology” perspective, also considering the recent normative framework in BIPV field, is expected to encourage the technological transfer of PV in the building sector by facilitating the daily work of architects, installers and the whole value chain.Bonomo, P.; Chatzipanagi, A.; Frontini, F. (2015). Overview and analysis of current BIPV products: new criteria for supporting the technological transfer in the building sector. VITRUVIO - International Journal of Architectural Technology and Sustainability. (1):67-85. doi:10.4995/vitruvio-ijats.2015.4476.SWORD6785

Solar Radiation and Daylighting Assessment Using the Sky-view Factor (SVF) Analysis as Method to Evaluate Urban Planning Densification Policies Impacts

Abstract This study identifies and proposes simple methods to assess solar radiation, daylighting availability and Sky-View Factor (SVF) modification, in complex urban environment. Numerical methods and 3D simulation software are combined with photo processing methods using digital cameras with special mirrors to project the hemispherical environment onto a circular image. This methodology has been applied to a real case study in Switzerland that is undergoing a very fast urban densification process, where urban planning strategies will determine significantly the possibility to relish solar irradiation in buildings. This paper analyzed the particularities of different urban scenarios considering the effects of urban densification planning strategies on existing buildings, in particular historical protected buildings

The energy performance evaluation of buildings in an evolving built environment: an operative methodology

Abstract The paper is based on a case study in Switzerland, where the Cantonal Director Plan, expected for the next years, will change the urban density. The plan allows raising from three and four floors the height of the existing buildings now separated by streets that are quite narrow, to get over up to eight floors, without modifying the width of street. A case study located in Paradiso municipality, part of Lugano's city (CH) is used to understand and quantify the impact of the future buildings on the energy performance of historical heritage buildings. The building adopted as case study is protected as cultural monument by the new Master Plan and listed in the sectorial regulations for the landscape. However, this building as others in the area is strongly influenced by the new changes in act, due to the New Master Plan, in term of solar availability and thus energy demand. The actual urban density scenario is compared to the future one to evaluate through dynamic energy simulation the change affecting the building considering the energy and economic aspects

4D Printing of Plasmon-Encoded Tunable Polydimethylsiloxane Lenses for On-Field Microscopy of Microbes

Here the 4D printing of a magnifying polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) lens encoded with a tunable plasmonic rejection filter is reported. The lens is formed by moldless printing of PDMS pre-polymer on a nanostructured porous silicon (PSi) templating layer. A nanometer-thick plasmonic filter is integrated on the lens surface by in situ synthesis of Ag and Au nanoparticles (NPs) with programmed density. The filter can be designed to reject light at the plasmonic resonance wavelength of the NPs with an optical density tunable from 0 to 3 and retreive light at longer wavelengths with a pass-to-stop band ratio tunable from 0 to 60 dB. Swelling of PDMS in hexane and ether is used to change the NP density on the lens surface and modulate, in turn, the transmittance properties of the NP-decorated lens over 3 orders of magnitude. The plasmon-encoded lens is coupled to a commercial smartphone demonstrating: shaping of the emission spectrum of a white light-emitting diode to tune the color from yellow to purple; real-time bright-field and fluorescence microscopy of living microbes in water, namely, the auto-fluorescent green alga Chlorogonium sp. and the ciliated protozoan Euplotes daidaleos