Coronary artery-pulmonary artery fistula: case report

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery fistulas are rare congenital or acquired coronary artery anomalies that can originate from any of the three major coronary arteries and drain in all the cardiac chambers and great vessels. CASE PRESENTATION: An 11-year-old boy was referred for evaluation of an exertional dyspnoea. He reported recent history of few episodes of shortness of breath associated with moderate entity physical activity. At physical examination a mild continuous murmur could be heard mainly at the level of the second intercostal space of the left parasternal area. A transthoracic echocardiogram showed a continuous flow at color Doppler analysis in the high parasternal short axis view, originating from a small entry site on the wall of the main pulmonary artery. A selective left coronary angiography revealed a fistula connecting the proximal portion of the left anterior descending coronary artery with the main pulmonary artery. CONCLUSION: A combination like the one described in the present case is unusual since fistulas originate from the left coronary artery in about 35% of cases and drainage into the pulmonary artery occurs in only 17%

Data of cost-optimality and technical solutions for high energy performance buildings in warm climate

AbstractThe data reported in this article refers to input and output information related to the research articles entitled Assessment of cost-optimality and technical solutions in high performance multi-residential buildings in the Mediterranean area by Zacà et al. (Assessment of cost-optimality and technical solutions in high performance multi-residential buildings in the Mediterranean area, in press.) and related to the research article Cost-optimal analysis and technical comparison between standard and high efficient mono residential buildings in a warm climate by Baglivo et al. (Energy, 2015, 10.1016/j.energy.2015.02.062, in press)

energy retrofit and environmental sustainability improvement of a historical farmhouse in southern italy

Abstract This paper proposes an integrated rehabilitation project of an abandoned farmhouse in a rural area in Southern Italy. The building underwent a functional recovery to become a tourist accommodation. The use of natural materials can reduce energy consumption and carbon footprints considering environmental sustainability aspects. A proper selection of interventions targeted for the specific warm climate has led to benefits for heating, cooling and lighting in the interior spaces. The project also includes the integration of hydraulic facilities and landscaping, such as planting hedges, green barriers and native trees

Assessment of cost-optimality and technical solutions in high performance multi-residential buildings in the Mediterranean area

tThe European policy framework is focused on reducing energy consumption in the building sector. Therecast of Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD) Directive establishes that minimum energy perfor-mance requirements have to be set to achieve cost-optimal levels.A methodology is developed to assess energy and cost effectiveness in new buildings located inthe Mediterranean area. Several energy efficiency technical variants are applied to a multi residentialreference building selected as a representative model of the national building stock. Primary energyconsumption and global costs are evaluated in a number of configurations to derive the cost-optimalsolution.The paper shows how economical high efficient buildings can be obtained at a design stage for a warmclimate. The selected configuration decreases primary energy consumption by 90% and CO2emissions by88% with respect to the baseline building.Results appear useful for comparison with other climates and building types. The paper also pointsout that the methodology is suitable to guide and support the choice of cost effective energy efficiencymeasures in compliance with EU requirements

High performance solutions and data for nZEBs offices located in warm climates

This data article contains eleven tables supporting the research article entitled: Cost-Optimal Design For Nearly Zero Energy Office Buildings Located In Warm Climates [1]. The data explain the procedure of minimum energy performance requirements presented by the European Directive (EPBD) [2] to establish several variants of energy efficiency measures with the integration of renewable energy sources in order to reach nZEBs (nearly zero energy buildings) by 2020. This files include the application of comparative methodological framework and give the cost-optimal solutions for non-residential building located in Southern Italy. The data describe office sector in which direct the current European policies and investments [3] and [4]. In particular, the localization of the building, geometrical features, thermal properties of the envelope and technical systems for HVAC are reported in the first sections. Energy efficiency measures related to orientation, walls, windows, heating, cooling, dhw and RES are given in the second part of the group; this data article provides 256 combinations for a financial and macroeconomic analysis.JRC.F.7-Renewables and Energy Efficienc

Cost-optimal design for nearly zero energy office buildings located in warm climates

The improvement of energy efficiency and the integration of renewable energy in buildings are key elements of current European policies. According to the recast of the Directive EPBD (Energy Performance of Buildings), Member States have to target nZEBs (nearly zero energy buildings) and minimum energy performance requirements within a cost-optimal framework by 2020. This study reports the comparative methodology reported in the EPBD, aimed at the establishment of cost-optimality in office buildings located in a warm climate. A number of energy efficiency measures have been selected and applied to the envelope and the systems of a virtual reference office building. Technical features and energy performance calculations have been assessed for the obtained configurations. Primary energy consumption and global costs have been derived to identify the cost-optimal configuration from a financial and macroeconomic analysis. The paper shows the suitability of the methodology to support the design of cost-effective energy efficient solutions in new office buildings. Results show technical variants selection able to a decrease primary energy consumption by 39% and CO2 emissions by 41% at the lowest cost. They also illustrate how to design cost-optimal nZEBs for a warm climate in compliance with EU (European Union) policies.JRC.F.7-Renewables and Energy Efficienc

Cost-optimal analysis and technical comparison between standard and high efficient mono-residential buildings in a warm climate

The recast of EU Directive on Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD) requires nearly zero energy buildings (nZEBs) as the building target from 2018 onwards and the establishment of cost optimal levels of minimum energy performance requirements in buildings. This paper presents the results of the application of a methodology to identify cost optimal levels in new residential buildings located in a warm climate. Mono-residential buildings have been considered as virtual reference buildings in this study. Different energy efficiency measures have been selected for the envelope and the systems. A combination of technical variants has been then applied to the base case in order to obtain several configurations to be compared in terms of primary energy consumption and global costs. The cost optimal solution is identified assessing technical features and energy performance. Standard and high efficiency buildings are analysed to show how the selected configuration allows a decrease in primary energy consumption and CO2 emissions at the lowest cost. Results are useful for comparison with other climates and building types. They also show the feasibility of the methodology to comply with EU requirements and to support the choice of economically efficient nZEBs solutions at the design stage.JRC.F.7-Renewables and Energy Efficienc

Assessment of cost-optimality and technical solutions in high performance multi-residential buildings in the Mediterranean area

The European policy framework is focused on reducing energy consumption in the building sector. The recast of Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD) Directive establishes that minimum energy performance requirements have to be set to achieve cost-optimal levels. A methodology is developed to assess energy and cost effectiveness in new buildings located in the Mediterranean area. Several energy efficiency technical variants are applied to a multi residential reference building selected as a representative model of the national building stock. Primary energy consumption and global costs are evaluated in a number of configurations to derive the cost-optimal solution. The paper shows how economical high efficient buildings can be obtained at the design stage to have in a warm climate. The selected configuration decreases primary energy consumption by 83% and CO2 emissions by 71% with respect to the baseline building. Results appear useful for comparison with other climates and building types. The paper also points out that the methodology is suitable to guide and support the choice of cost effective energy efficiency measures in compliance with EU requirements.JRC.F.7-Renewables and Energy Efficienc

Cost-optimal design for nearly zero energy office buildings located in warm climates

The improvement of energy efficiency and the integration of renewable energy in buildings are key elements of current European policies. According to the recast of the Directive EPBD (Energy Performance of Buildings), Member States have to target nZEBs (nearly zero energy buildings) and minimum energy performance requirements within a cost-optimal framework by 2020. This study reports the comparative methodology reported in the EPBD, aimed at the establishment of cost-optimality in office buildings located in a warm climate. A number of energy efficiency measures have been selected and applied to the envelope and the systems of a virtual reference office building. Technical features and energy performance calculations have been assessed for the obtained configurations. Primary energy consumption and global costs have been derived to identify the cost-optimal configuration from a financial and macroeconomic analysis. The paper shows the suitability of the methodology to support the design of cost-effective energy efficient solutions in new office buildings. Results show technical variants selection able to a decrease primary energy consumption by 39% and CO2 emissions by 41% at the lowest cost. They also illustrate how to design cost-optimal nZEBs for a warm climate in compliance with EU (European Union) policies