Energy Efficiency Indicators for Assessing Construction Systems Storing Renewable Energy: Application to Phase Change Material-Bearing Façades

Assessing the performance or energy efficiency of a single construction element by itself is often a futile exercise. That is not the case, however, when an element is designed, among others, to improve building energy performance by harnessing renewable energy in a process that requires a source of...

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Main Authors: José A. Tenorio, José Sánchez-Ramos, Álvaro Ruiz-Pardo, Servando Álvarez, Luisa F. Cabeza
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2015-08-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/8/8/8630
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author José A. Tenorio
José Sánchez-Ramos
Álvaro Ruiz-Pardo
Servando Álvarez
Luisa F. Cabeza
author_facet José A. Tenorio
José Sánchez-Ramos
Álvaro Ruiz-Pardo
Servando Álvarez
Luisa F. Cabeza
author_sort José A. Tenorio
collection DOAJ
description Assessing the performance or energy efficiency of a single construction element by itself is often a futile exercise. That is not the case, however, when an element is designed, among others, to improve building energy performance by harnessing renewable energy in a process that requires a source of external energy. Harnessing renewable energy is acquiring growing interest in Mediterranean climates as a strategy for reducing the energy consumed by buildings. When such reduction is oriented to lowering demand, the strategy consists in reducing the building’s energy needs with the use of construction elements able to passively absorb, dissipate, or accumulate energy. When reduction is pursued through M&E services, renewable energy enhances building performance. The efficiency of construction systems that use renewable energy but require a supplementary power supply to operate can be assessed by likening these systems to regenerative heat exchangers built into the building. The indicators needed for this purpose are particularly useful for designers, for they can be used to compare the efficiency or performance to deliver an optimal design for each building. This article proposes a series of indicators developed to that end and describes their application to façades bearing phase change materials (PCMs).
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spelling doaj.art-b90f3ffdf3804c5aa162d635bd6e8da82022-12-22T04:25:15ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732015-08-01888630864910.3390/en8088630en8088630Energy Efficiency Indicators for Assessing Construction Systems Storing Renewable Energy: Application to Phase Change Material-Bearing FaçadesJosé A. Tenorio0José Sánchez-Ramos1Álvaro Ruiz-Pardo2Servando Álvarez3Luisa F. Cabeza4Eduardo Torroja Institute-CSIC, Serrano Galvache 4, Madrid 28030, SpainThermal Engineering Group, School of Engineering, University of Seville, Camino de los Descubrimientos s/n, Seville 41092, SpainSchool of Engineering, University of Cadiz, C/Chile, 1, Cádiz 11002, SpainThermal Engineering Group, School of Engineering, University of Seville, Camino de los Descubrimientos s/n, Seville 41092, SpainDepartment of Computer and Industrial Engineering, University of Lleida, C/Jaume II, 69, Lleida 25001, SpainAssessing the performance or energy efficiency of a single construction element by itself is often a futile exercise. That is not the case, however, when an element is designed, among others, to improve building energy performance by harnessing renewable energy in a process that requires a source of external energy. Harnessing renewable energy is acquiring growing interest in Mediterranean climates as a strategy for reducing the energy consumed by buildings. When such reduction is oriented to lowering demand, the strategy consists in reducing the building’s energy needs with the use of construction elements able to passively absorb, dissipate, or accumulate energy. When reduction is pursued through M&E services, renewable energy enhances building performance. The efficiency of construction systems that use renewable energy but require a supplementary power supply to operate can be assessed by likening these systems to regenerative heat exchangers built into the building. The indicators needed for this purpose are particularly useful for designers, for they can be used to compare the efficiency or performance to deliver an optimal design for each building. This article proposes a series of indicators developed to that end and describes their application to façades bearing phase change materials (PCMs).http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/8/8/8630energy efficiencyrenewable energyregenerative heat exchangersphase change materials (PCMs)indicators
spellingShingle José A. Tenorio
José Sánchez-Ramos
Álvaro Ruiz-Pardo
Servando Álvarez
Luisa F. Cabeza
Energy Efficiency Indicators for Assessing Construction Systems Storing Renewable Energy: Application to Phase Change Material-Bearing Façades
Energies
energy efficiency
renewable energy
regenerative heat exchangers
phase change materials (PCMs)
indicators
title Energy Efficiency Indicators for Assessing Construction Systems Storing Renewable Energy: Application to Phase Change Material-Bearing Façades
title_full Energy Efficiency Indicators for Assessing Construction Systems Storing Renewable Energy: Application to Phase Change Material-Bearing Façades
title_fullStr Energy Efficiency Indicators for Assessing Construction Systems Storing Renewable Energy: Application to Phase Change Material-Bearing Façades
title_full_unstemmed Energy Efficiency Indicators for Assessing Construction Systems Storing Renewable Energy: Application to Phase Change Material-Bearing Façades
title_short Energy Efficiency Indicators for Assessing Construction Systems Storing Renewable Energy: Application to Phase Change Material-Bearing Façades
title_sort energy efficiency indicators for assessing construction systems storing renewable energy application to phase change material bearing facades
topic energy efficiency
renewable energy
regenerative heat exchangers
phase change materials (PCMs)
indicators
url http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/8/8/8630
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