Cost-effective analysis for selecting energy efficiency measures for refurbishment of residential buildings in Catalonia

© 2016. This version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/This paper presents the results of a detailed method for developing cost-optimal studies for the energy refurbishment of residential buildings. The method takes part of an innovative approach: two-step evaluation considering thermal comfort, energy and economic criteria. The first step, the passive evaluation, was presented previously [1] and the results are used to develop the active evaluation, which is the focus of this paper. The active evaluation develops a cost-optimal analysis to compare a set of passive and active measures for the refurbishment of residential buildings. The cost-optimal methodology follows the European Directives and analysed the measures from the point of view of non-renewable primary energy consumption and the global costs over 30 years. The energy uses included in the study are heating, domestic hot water, cooling, lighting and appliances. In addition, the results have been represented following the energy labelling scale. The paper shows the results of a multi-family building built in the years 1990–2007 and located in Barcelona with two configurations: with natural ventilation and without natural ventilation. The method provides technical and economic information about the energy efficiency measures, with the objective to support the decision process.Postprint (author's final draft

Detailed energy and comfort simulation of integral refurbishment of existing buildings in Catalonia

The energy renovation of buildings is an essential action to achieve the European target of 20/20/20. However, the dynamics of the energy renovation are very slow and the development of urgent policy actions beyond the national energy efficiency action plans is needed. In that context, the main objective of the thesis is to develop a cost-effective analysis for the energy renovation of the main residential building typologies of Catalonia, considering three main criteria: thermal comfort, primary energy use and global costs. The main building typologies of Catalonia are analysed, comparing the current situation with the effect of different energy efficiency measures. Four building typologies are studied, each of them in different climates and locations, in order to evaluate the differences and the particularities of every one. The building model definition is an important task where all the methods and hypotheses to estimate the energy consumption are defined. In that sense, the objective of the building model definition is to go further to the previous studies, trying to improve the detail and the results of the simulation. The emphasis of the PhD is on the following aspects: the building characterization, including information from surveys and monitoring campaigns; the user behaviour and its interaction with the building, using stochastic occupancy profiles; the improvement of the implementation of passive strategies, as natural ventilation and the use of solar protections; and the thermal comfort of the users, as a criteria to choose the appropriate measures. A validation process of the building model is done to obtain reliable results. A pilot site is used to develop the validation of the model. A monitoring campaign has been done to characterize the pilot site and to implement the simulation model. The pilot site is a dwelling representative of one of the typologies analysed under the PhD. The validation of the model confirms that the hypotheses and methods included in the model are appropriate for the residential building simulation. Finally, the simulation process is defined in two-step evaluation: passive and active evaluation. The objective of the passive evaluation is to reduce, as much as possible, the thermal discomfort with the minimum initial investment cost of passive measures. This first step provides information to make a first selection of the appropriate passive measures in each building. In the second step where the passive and active measures are implemented in the building, the active evaluation wants to obtain the cost-effective measures, minimizing the primary energy use and the global costs. For concluding, the PhD provides technical and economic information to help to take decisions for the energy renovation of residential buildings in Catalonia.La rehabilitació energètica dels edificis és una acció essencial per assolir els objectius Europeus 20/20/20. Malauradament, les dinàmiques de renovació energètica són molt lentes i requereixen de accions polítiques urgents emmarcades sota els plans d’acció nacional per l’eficiència energètica. En aquest context, el principal objectiu de la tesi es desenvolupar un anàlisis cost-efectiu per la renovació energètica dels principals edificis residencials de Catalunya, considerant tres criteris principals: confort tèrmic, energia primària i costos globals. Les principals tipologies d’edificis de Catalunya s’analitzen comparant la seva situació actual amb l’efecte de les diferents mesures d’eficiència energètica. S’han estudiat quatre tipologies d’edifici, cada una d’elles en diferents climes i localitzacions, per tal d’avaluar les diferencies i les particularitats de cada una d’elles. La definició dels models d’edifici és una tasca important on s’han de definir tots els mètodes i hipòtesis per estimar el consum energètic. En aquest sentit, l’objectiu de la definició del model d’edifici és anar mes enllà dels estudis previs, intentant millorar el detall i els resultats de la simulació. L’enfoc de la tesis es centra en els següents aspectes: la caracterització de l’edifici, incloent informació obtinguda d’enquestes i campanyes de monitorització; el comportament de l’usuari i la seva interacció amb l’edifici, fent servir perfils d’ocupació estocàstics; la millora en la implementació de estratègies passives, com ara la ventilació natural o les proteccions solars; i el confort tèrmic dels usuaris com a criteri per elegir els mesures adequades. S’ha realitzat la validació del model d’edifici per tal d’obtenir resultats fiables. S’ha utilitzat un habitatge pilot per realitzar la validació del model. S’ha realitzat una campanya de monitorització per tal de caracteritzar el pilot i poder implementar el model. L’habitatge pilot és un habitatge representatiu de una de les tipologies analitzades al PhD. La validació del model confirma que les hipòtesis i mètodes implementats al model son els adequats per la simulació d’edificis residencials. Per concloure, el procés de simulació s’ha definit en dos etapes d’avaluació: avaluació passiva i activa. L’objectiu de l’avaluació passiva és reduir lo màxim possible el desconfort tèrmic amb el mínim cost d’inversió inicial en mesures passives. Aquesta etapa proporciona informació per realitzar una primera selecció de les mesures passives adequades per cada edifici. A la segona etapa, on les mesures passives i actives s’implementen a l’edifici, l’avaluació passiva proporciona les mesures cost-efectives, minimitzant l’energia primària i els costos globals. Finalment, la tesi proporciona informació tècnica i econòmica per ajudar la presa de decisions per la renovació energètica dels edificis residencials de Catalunya.Postprint (published version

De la taylorització a IKEA : estudi tecnològic de les unions entre components del mobiliari d'IKEA com a reflex d'un disseny condicionat a l'usuari

La taylorització ha influenciat profundament les dinàmiques de l'actual mode de producció, les quals l'empresa IKEA ha reproduït a partir de l'anàlisi científica del "saber fer" de la gent per a crear una tecnologia que permet que qualsevol persona pugui muntar i desmuntar un moble seguint unes instruccions i sense haver d'aprendre res de nou. Amb aquesta investigació es pretén desxifrar la informació que contenen les unions entre components dels productes d'IKEA, per socialitzar aquest coneixement i aconseguir que la població es pugui reapropiar de la tecnologia per a fabricar el que necessiti.La taylorización ha influenciado profundamente las dinámicas del actual modo de producción, las cuales la empresa IKEA ha reproducido mediante el análisis científico del "saber hacer" de la gente para crear una tecnología que permite que cualquier persona pueda montar y desmontar un mueble siguiendo unas instrucciones y sin tener que aprender nada nuevo. Con esta investigación se pretende descifrar la información que contienen las uniones entre componentes de los productos de IKEA, para socializar este conocimiento y conseguir que la población se pueda reapropiar de la tecnología para fabricar lo que necesite.Taylorization has profoundly influenced the dynamics of the current mode of production, which the company IKEA has reproduced from the scientific analysis of people's "know-how" to create a technology that allows anyone to assemble and disassemble a piece of furniture following instructions and without having to learn anything new. This research aims to decode the information contained in the joints between components of IKEA products, in order to socialize this knowledge and allow people to recover ownership of the technology to manufacture what they need

Evaluation of tariff structural changes in Spanish households affected by energy poverty

A new structure for regulated tariffs affecting consumers with contracted power up to 15 kW was introduced by the Spanish government in June 2021. According to the National Commission for Markets and Competition the new tariff would impact residential consumers differently, depending on previous contracting conditions. In particular, households under old Time-of-Use tariffs are expected to face a significant increase in their electricity bill, which might be exacerbated by the rising generation costs observed in the Spanish market throughout 2021. This situation becomes more relevant for consumers affected by energy poverty, especially when considering that this group needs to be in a regulated tariff to access social benefits. A set of energy poverty affected households are evaluated during a monitoring campaign carried out in Barcelona’s pilot as part of EmpowerMed H2020 project, whose objective is to tackle energy poverty and help improving people’s health in the coastal areas of Mediterranean countries, with a particular focus on women. Hourly consumption data is downloaded from the customers’ smart-meters, which are accessed through their personal account in the distributor’s website. Using this data, the article presents an evaluation of the potential impact that the new tariff structure might have on energy poverty affected households, considering different price scenarios that reflect the observed rising generation costs and the price mitigation measures enacted by the government in an attempt to reduce its impact on domestic consumers.Peer ReviewedObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::7 - Energia Assequible i No ContaminantObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::5 - Igualtat de GènerePostprint (published version

The uncertainty of the energy demand in existing mediterranean urban blocks

The objective of the paper is to describe a stochastic model that has been developed to obtain load profiles for household electricity. For the study, several profiles have been generated in order to simulate the electrical demand of a residential building block or neighbourhood and evaluate the uncertainty of its energy use. The paper is divided in three different parts: development of the model, validation and determination of the uncertainty demand. In the first parts the basis of the model and how it works is explained. The second one represents the validation of the model, the input data and its results. The last step is focused on a statistical analysis of the electricity demand of a block of dwellings to evaluate minimum number of dwellings needed to estimate the average demand representative of the Mediterranean dwelling with different levels of accuracyPostprint (author’s final draft

Stochastic model for electrical loads in Mediterranean residential building: validation and applications

A major issue in modelling the electrical load of residential building is reproducing the variability between dwellings due to the stochastic use of different electrical equipment. In that sense and with the objective to reproduce this variability, a stochastic model to obtain load profiles of household electricity is developed. The model is based on a probabilistic approach and is developed using data from the Mediterranean region of Spain. A detailed validation of the model has been done, analysing and comparing the results with Spanish and European data. The results of the validation show that the model is able to reproduce the most important features of the residential electrical consumption, especially the particularities of the Mediterranean countries. The final part of the paper is focused on the potential applications of the models, and some examples are proposed. The model is useful to simulate a cluster of buildings or individual households. The model allows obtaining synthetic profiles representing the most important characteristics of the mean dwelling, by means of a stochastic approach. The inputs of the proposed model are adapted to energy labelling information of the electric devices. An example case is presented considering a dwelling with high performance equipment.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft version

Spinocerebellar ataxia: perceptual and acoustic analysis of speech in three cases

BACKGROUND: dysarthrias are commonly found in patients with spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA). AIM: to characterize perceptual and acoustic features of speech in three patients with spinocerebellar ataxia and to verify the presence of similar features among these patients. METHOD: speech samples of two males with SCA3 and one male with SCA2 were obtained. Both perceptual and acoustic analyses were done. RESULTS: It was observed strain-strangled and breathiness phonation, vocal instability, increased noise-to-harmonics ratio and low alternate motion rate (AMR) and speech rate in all three patients. Deviated resonance and s/z ratio were also observed. CONCLUSION: phonatory disorders and altered temporal patterns of speech seem to be typical in dysarthric patients with spinocerebellar ataxia.TEMA: a disartria é freqüentemente descrita como característica marcante dentre as diversas manifestações clínicas das ataxias espinocerebelares (AEC). OBJETIVO: caracterizar as alterações perceptivo-auditivas e acústicas da fala de três pacientes com ataxia espinocerebelar e verificar a presença de manifestações comuns entre os casos. MÉTODO: amostras de fala de dois homens com AEC-3 e de um com AEC-2 foram coletadas e analisadas acústica e perceptivamente. RESULTADOS: foi identificada voz tensa e soprosa, instabilidade vocal, aumento da proporção ruído-harmônico, redução da diadococinesia oral de sílabas alternadas e redução da velocidade da fala nos três indivíduos, além de desvios ressonantais e da relação s/z. CONCLUSÃO: manifestações fonatórias e dos padrões temporais da fala parecem ser características de pacientes disártricos com ataxia espinocerebelar.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Prefeitura do Rio de JaneiroUNIFESP Atenção Básica à SaúdeRede Sarah Hospitais de ReabilitaçãoUNIFESP Departamento de FonoaudiologiaUNIFESP, Prefeitura do Rio de JaneiroUNIFESP, Atenção Básica à SaúdeUNIFESP, Depto. de FonoaudiologiaSciEL

Stratospheric Effects on UV, Speed of Sound, Pressure, and Temperature

The atmosphere is composed of several layers, each with its own distinct environment varying in temperature, pressure, and levels of UV radiation. Quantifying these varying parameters proves to be useful in understanding atmospheric composition in greater detail. Variance in the composition of the atmosphere allows for the study of the evolution of physical phenomena at different altitudes. Our group quantified this variance using a high-altitude weather balloon and designed an experimental method to observe the nature of sound propagation through varying altitudes. The goal was to develop an altitude-dependent model of the speed of sound by using an open-air, microcontroller-based payload. Using our platform, we found that the open-air payload design results in noisy readings. Additionally, our method was restricted to low altitude environments, unable to produce reliable data above 6,700 meters. We address possible improvements and constraints in developing an open-air payload design to derive an altitude-dependent model for sound propagation. Furthermore, we present our findings on the variations in pressure, temperature, and levels of UV radiation during balloon flights at altitudes of up to 30,000 meters. These variations included a proportional decrease in pressure, a temperature inversion at 15,000 meters, and an exceptional increase in both UVA and UVB radiation as altitude increases

Sustainable management of peel waste in the small-scale orange juice industries: A Colombian case study

Appropriate waste management in emerging economies like Colombia should be an asset for the overall sustainability. In the Orange Peel Waste case, incineration and Anaerobic Digestion are challenging solutions for the orange juice agro-industrial sector for avoiding the landfill, which is the conventional practice. However, these alternatives should be assessed in order to determine their feasibility. This paper aims to understand if incineration and Anaerobic Digestion are potential alternatives to landfill form a techno-economic and environmentally perspective. To this aim, a comparative Life Cycle Assessment was carried out in four scenarios. In the first scenario coal and landfill are used as source of energy and landfill disposal in the actual orange juice process. In the second scenario, the peels are incinerated to avoid landfill and reduce the need for coal. The third scenario includes the valorization of the peels by means of Anaerobic Digestion which produces biogas for the plant energy requirements. In the fourth scenario, apart from the energy from biogas, the digestate becomes a fertilizer for use in the orange crops. The results revealed that scenario III and IV are environmentally friendly options compared to Scenario I, but they incur higher costs than Scenario II. Carbon footprint found that 1.55 kg of CO2 are saving when coal substitution is reduced from 0.493 kg in SI to 0.279 kg in SII. Therefore, Scenario II is more suitable for the Colombian socioeconomic reality since Scenario II is not only techno-environmentally achievable, but also economically feasible. The methodology used in this case study could be applied to other countries or small and medium scale technologies and could also be useful for the scientific community, enterprises and policy-makers.The authors wish to acknowledge the financial support of the Fondo Regional de Tecnología Agropecuaria FONTAGRO [Contract:ATN/RF 16111RG, 2016] and of the Departamento Administrativo de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, Doctorados Nacionales [Contract:727, 2015]. Also this article is the result of the work developed through the "Programa de investigación reconstrucción del tejido social en zonas de pos-conflicto en Colombia" [SIGP 57579] withthe research project "Competencias empresariales y de innovación para el desarrollo económico y la inclusión productiva de las regiones afectadas por el conflicto colombiano" [SIGP 58907]. Finally, the authors would like to express their appreciation to FLP Procesados Company for providing the data for the case study

Analysis through smart meters of the effects of energy poverty in the consumption of households

Spain is Pioneer in implementing Smart meters in Europe, having spread them in almost all territory. Presumably, this allows to increase the knowledge in the energy consumption of households, providing information to contract the most suitable power and tariff and to adjust consumption habits. Consequently, Smart meters are said to be useful to mitigate energy poverty. As a result of this presumption, Barcelona’s pilot site in the H2020 EmpowerMed Project developed a tool for diagnosis and energy audits that, from data collected through Smart meters, provides recommendations and knowledge for future decisions. The study presents the common difficulties found to get access to remote data from commercial smart meters, focusing on the particularities that affect vulnerable collectives. Moreover, the study characterizes and compares the energy consumption of energy poverty affected and nonaffected households to contrast the stereotypes this collective is subjected to and to put in evidence that their consumption is lesser and that they generally contract a power and tariff more suitable to their reality than those of non-affected households.Peer ReviewedObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::5 - Igualtat de GènereObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::7 - Energia Assequible i No ContaminantPostprint (published version