Maturity matrix assessment : evaluation of energy efficiency strategies in Brussels historic residential stock

Energy retrofitting of historic or existing buildings is a challenge that it has not yet been properly solved. Multiple projects and methodologies are published every day but neither of them with the holistic approach that will assure success since the design phase. Nevertheless, these buildings play a key role in the achievement of the ambitious energy saving and greenhouse gas reduction targets that Europe has fixed for 2020 and 2050. Research has demonstrated that the impact in terms of decrease of energy use and CO2 will be strong, considering that, in Europe, 80% of the 2030 building stock already exists and 30% are historical buildings. To achieve these goals, reliable data about energy consumption, building components and systems performance of the existing building stock is needed. With the residential stock occupying a 75% of Europe’s floor space, this becomes a difficult task as this stock is never considered as a whole. Its components are installed, serviced and maintained by different companies and in different stages without a holistic approach to the overall building operation. The result is a lack of energy efficiency and feedback of the solutions implemented once the buildings are refurbished. This paper presents a pre-assessment methodology to tackle the energy retrofitting of historic and existing residential buildings based in the Maturity Matrix Assessment. The maturity of the implementation of energy efficiency measures in Brussels historic residential stock is evaluated to measure the gap between the “as is” and “to be” and define future appropriate strategies. The matrix synthetizes appropriate strategies for this specific stock that provides a global map of the problematic, requirements and solutions

Developing a collaborative framework for construction projects in emerging economies

Purpose: The construction industry is a primary contributor to the development of emerging economies such as the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. However, the sector is underperforming, and products are not meeting expectations. A lack of collaboration is considered a significant contributor to these issues. Various researchers have identified factors to improve collaborative approaches. However, there is still a lack of clear frameworks to help implement collaboration in the construction industry, especially in emerging economies. Therefore, this study aims to develop a framework to implement collaboration in the construction industry.Design/methodology/approach: This article utilises a review of literature, questionnaire and interviews with experts in the construction industry in order to develop a framework to achieve collaboration in construction projects. Findings: The research presents a framework that distributes the factors of collaboration over the project lifecycle stages in accordance with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Plan of Work 2007. Each factor is divided into a set of enabling conditions which must be satisfied to ensure that the given specific factors are delivered. Additionally, the framework suggests appointing a collaboration champion at the beginning of the project to manage the process. Originality/value: The research contributes to scarce literature about collaboration practices in the Kurdistan Region and in emerging economies in general.</p

Serious games for energy social science research

This paper proposes a set of criteria for evaluation of serious games (SGs) which are intended as effective methods of engaging energy users and lowering consumption. We discuss opportunities for using SGs in energy research which go beyond existing feedback mechanisms, including use of immersive virtual worlds for learning and testing behaviours, and sparking conversations within households. From a review of existing SG evaluation criteria, we define a tailored set of criteria for energy SG development and evaluation. The criteria emphasise the need for the game to increase energy literacy through applicability to real-life energy use/management; clear, actionable goals and feedback; ways of comparing usage socially and personal relevance. Three existing energy games are evaluated according to this framework. The paper concludes by outlining directions for future development of SGs as an effective tool in social science research, including games which inspire reflection on trade-offs and usage at different scales

Methodology for Evaluating Innovative Technologies for Low-Energy Retrofitting of Public Buildings

There is urgency to transform Europe into a low-carbon economy to reduce the risk of climate change and achieve sustainable energy security. One of the most cost-effective measures to meet energy reduction targets, as clearly specified in the “European Economic Recovery Plan”, is to address performance of existing building stock. Buildings account for about 40% of the EUenergy consumption and one third of the GHG emissions. In particular, the state of the European building stock contains a high improvement potential. REtrofitting Solutions and Services for the enhancement of Energy Efficiency in Public Edification (RESSEEPE) is an EU funded project that focuses on the refurbishment of existing public buildings in three European cities: Coventry (UK), Barcelona (SP) and Skelleftea (SW). The aim of the project is to bring together design and decision making tools and innovative building fabric manufacturers to collaborate and improve building performance through low impact retrofitting interventions to achieve energy reduction in the region of 50%. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the process of low-energy retrofit and the selection and evaluation of low-energy technologies for retrofit. Specifically the paper looks at the decision making procedure to select advanced building technologies for high energy performance retrofitting, using Coventry University estates as a case study. The paper reviews innovative technologies and using analytical methods investigates the benefits of these potential technologies as applied to existing case study buildings within Coventry University. The interconnectivity of these buildings within the urban environment within which they sit is also evaluated